Volvo Trucks, which has been developing its own compression ignition liquefied natural gas (LNG) engine for North America, is now putting “on hold plans to launch” the powerplant.
Volvo said it will continue to offer spark-ignited natural gas engines in its VNM and VNL models. In addition, field testing of a dimethyl ether (DME) engine is ongoing and this decision does not affect those plans, the company said.
According to the company, development of natural gas infrastructure to support long-haul trucking “has been modest over the last year, and the needs of customers in the primary markets for natural gas vehicles – regional haul and dedicated routes – are being met with the company’s current natural gas line-up.”
When Volvo announced the development of a 13L LNG engine in 2012, it expected to make the engine available commercially this year.
Volvo has not announced when a DME-powered vehicle might be available.