The Volvo Multi-Fuel Prototype has three tanks – one large and two small and the total capacity is 98 liters for hythane, biomethane and CNG, which are the gaseous fuels and 29 liters for bioethanol E85 and petrol, which are the liquid fuels. The large tank has a liner made of durable aluminum, which is gas-tight and it is reinforced with a carbon fiber composite and an outer layer of fiberglass hardened composite. The smaller tanks are made out of steel.
All these tanks which hold the fuel are put under the floor of the luggage compartment so it does not interfere with the luggage space in your vehicle. To fill up all the 5 fuels, all that is required are 2 fuel fillers – one for the liquids and one for the gases. The blending of the gas and liquid is automatically done inside the engine and, as we have already stated, all you need to do to switch from one fuel to the other is to push a button.
In 2006, this car was showcased at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Paris in June. This show has the latest concepts of the major automobile manufacturers being displayed. In its class, the Volvo Multi-Fuel won not one, but four gold medals and this was for its silent operation, its clean emissions, the braking test and its acceleration from 0 -100 km/hour. It also won prizes for fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.
As Mats Morén, the project manager for Volvo Car Corporation’s Multi-Fuel project declared, "The prizes in the Challenge Bibendum 2006 show that we have succeeded in combining an environmentally adapted engine with high performance."
