Volvo has been granted SEK 12.8m (£1.1m) by the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA) to support field testing of third-generation dimethyl ether (DME) technology for heavy vehicles. The 14-truck field tests in Sweden are part of a project comprising demonstration of the entire technology chain, from biomass to fuel in the trucks and also includes distribution and filling stations for DME.
The first trucks are scheduled to be ready by the end of next year. The SEA grant supplements the support
being sought from the EU's Seventh Framework Program, for which contract negotiations are in the final phase.
DME has ultra-low exhaust emissions (including very low NOx), is highly efficient and has excellent cold-starting properties. It is handled at low pressure in liquid form, similar to LPG. DME is produced through the gasification of biomass or fossil raw materials. The gas that is formed, synthesis gas, is then catalysed to produce DME.
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