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The Multi Fuel Prototype Car by Volvo is really quite a feat of engineering and imagination. Best of all, it works. The Multi Fuel Prototype is so called because it can use any one of five different fuel sources.
In today's race for flex fuel vehicles, who could ask for anything more? It was introduced by Volvo at the Michelin Challenge Bibendum 2006, which is the "international sustainable mobility event."
The Michelin Challenge is a design competition to introduce new alternative automotive concepts and has seven categories.
They are in the car category: acceleration, braking, noise, emissions, fuel efficiency, CO2 emissions and handling on a winding road course or slalom. Look for news on the new challenge issued for 2007.
5 fuel car gasoline,methane,natural gas,hythane,e85
Volvo has the foresight to realize that no one fuel source will replace the fossil fuels we use today, and is preparing for the many different forms of fuel we will have to depend on in the future.
The Volvo Multi Fuel Prototype is an innocent looking car, a V70 station wagon, great for a family. It has the same great safety standards any Volvo has, but that is where the similarity ends.
There are 4 gas tanks in the Multi Fuel Prototype. It has 1 large and 2 smaller tanks to hold gaseous forms of fuel like hythane, methane and Natural Gas(CNG). The two small tanks are made of steel and the larger tank has a liner that is gas tight. There is another gas tank to hold the liquid fuels the car can run on E85 and gasoline. There are two filler openings, one for the gaseous fuels, and one for the liquid.
The fuel tanks fit underneath the floor of the luggage compartment. To switch what kind of fuel you are using, you only have to hit a button. This car is powerful too, with two hundred horse power and a turbo engine, it can go from 0–100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.
Volvo says this car runs clean and "meets virtually all known emission standards in the world, including the proposed Euro 5" which will come into effect in 2008, and is thought to be the toughest emissions test yet
The types of fuels are:
The Gases:
1. Methane, which can come from natural gas or plant sources.
2. Hythane, which is a mix of 10% hydrogen and 90% methane
3. Natural Gas, known as CNG
The Liquids
4. E85, which is 85% bioethanol and 15% petrol
5. Gasoline, good old gasoline
The specifications of the Volvo Multi Fuel Prototype are:
Body Type: 5-door wagon
Layout (est): front engine, FWD
Engine (est): 200-HP, 2.5L, I-5, low-pressure turbo
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Brakes (est front/rear): disc/disc, ABS and EBD
Cargo Cap (seat up/down): 1,062 / 2,025 L (37.5 / 71.5 cu ft)
Fuel Type(s): gasoline, E85 (bioethanol), natural gas, biomethane, and hythane