Development of the 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, Volvo says.
Volvo says it continues to believe that DME – which can be produced from natural gas – holds promise as a heavy-truck fuel. Customer field tests of DME-powered vehicles will continue, but the company has decided not to establish a commercialization date as it continues monitoring market and stakeholder interest in the fuel.
Volvo’s announcement follows a similar announcement from Cummins in February, in which the engine maker said it was placing on hold its plans its production of its 15-liter natural gas engine.
