Scania’s unique ethanol-diesel technology has been in use in Scania buses in regular city service for almost 20 years. Now Scania is using its well-proven ethanol engine technology in trucks used for such urban transport tasks as distribution and refuse collection.

This means that for the first time operators, authorities and municipalities will have the opportunity to run urban transport for both passengers and goods on liquid renewable fuel.

Björn Westman, head of Powertrain Development at Scania, describes how his organisation has put thousands of hours into the development of Scania’s third-generation ethanol-diesel engine, which he considers to be one of the most promising technologies for sustainable transport.

“Operators and hauliers have shown great interest in the ethanol truck,” Westman says. “It’s also encouraging that there is a growing interest from the fuel-supply industry to invest in an infrastructure for this type of ethanol. This proves that the market believes in the fuel.”

The ethanol-diesel is part of Scania’s modular engine range.

Scania regards ethanol as the most cost-efficient renewable fuel currently available for urban operation, since it can contribute to a more sustainable public transport system without delay. The technology is mature and viable for intense everyday city service, as verified by bus operators in several cities around the world.

“Ethanol requires a little ‘special attention’, so we have worked hard to optimise the engine with a new fuel injection system as well as new specifications for lubricants,” says Westman.

Ethanol is as easy to handle as other liquid fuels. Provided that it is produced in a sustainable way from Brazilian sugar cane, ethanol provides a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 90 percent, compared with diesel fuel. Trial production from forest waste with integrated bioprocesses extracting heat or power indicates similarly high results.

“Ethanol has great potential,” says Westman. “The engine technology is well proven, and the fuel is economically competitive. City buses were the start, and urban trucks are the next step. Long-haulage trucks are the logical continuation.”

Dutch logistics company Rotra, logistics giant Schenker and Ragn-Sells, a Swedish-based resource and waste management company, are participating in the final trials of the new Scania ethanol truck before production starts next year.

 
The first ethanol trucks will be delivered next year. “It’s a big step,” says Björn Westman, head of Engine Development at Scania.

 
Text: Per-Ola Knutas and Per-Erik Nordström
Photo: Carl-Erik Andersson and Stefan Almers

< Back to Scania Magazines