| Volvo launched FlexiFuel cars powered by renewable | | | | construction projects underway in the US to boost |
| bioethanol on some European markets. The green | | | | ethanol production. They are expected to add 3.8 billion |
| range is extended to include the new Volvo C30, | | | | gallons of new capacity in the next 18 months. |
| which will be featuring eco-optimised FlexiFuel power. | | | | Growth in American fuel ethanol production is |
| "Interest in ethanol as a vehicle fuel is growing in | | | | attributed largely to financial incentives that exist when |
| Europe," says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President | | | | oil prices are in excess of a certain level, as ethanol |
| Market, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars. | | | | typically costs under $1.50 per gallon to manufacture |
| "We are therefore expanding our range with additional | | | | and is exempt from the $0.52 per gallon federal |
| models on a total of 9 markets. First to get Volvo's | | | | gasoline tax. Nonetheless, the biggest national fuel |
| FlexiFuel cars outside Sweden will be Britain, Ireland, | | | | ethanol industries are in Brazil. |
| France, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland | | | | The C30, S40 and the V50, three of nine Volvo |
| and Norway." | | | | models, are now available in an environmentally |
| "It's very encouraging that the market is expanding and | | | | optimized FlexiFuel alternative. These cars are |
| that political initiatives are being taken," continues Gerry | | | | powered by a four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine |
| Keaney. In France, the government has announced its | | | | that is capable of producing 125 horsepower. |
| plan to build 500 fuel stations for E85 this year. E85, a | | | | Bioethanol and gasoline are both filled in the same 55 |
| mix of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, will | | | | liter tank. Volvo engine parts like fuel hoses, gaskets |
| be produced locally from agricultural products like | | | | and valves are enhanced to stand the corrosive |
| sugar-beet and several grains. At present, there are | | | | properties of ethanol. Also, the injection valves are |
| 23 plants producing ethanol in Europe and said number | | | | reinforced and made larger to accommodate more |
| is expected to rise to more than 60 next year. In said | | | | fuel needs. E85 has lower energy content hence more |
| territory, about 1.8 million liters of ethanol are produced | | | | fuel is injected into the engine. In addition, the cars also |
| every year and this capacity is expected to increase | | | | come with an updated software calibration designed |
| threefold in 2008. | | | | for ethanol power. To monitor the mixture of fuels and |
| Ethanol, an entirely renewable fuel, is produced from | | | | to automatically blend ignition and injection, the |
| about any biomass source. One method of generating | | | | automaker use sophisticated engine management |
| ethanol is through fermentation of sugar. Ethanol is also | | | | system to do the tasks efficiently. |
| known as ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol however, in | | | | "A renewable fuel will not, on its own, be able to |
| common usage it is referred to simply as alcohol. As a | | | | replace today's fossil fuels, and the range of |
| vehicle fuel, ethanol creates very little pollution when | | | | alternative fuels will probably be far wider in the future. |
| burned. | | | | Many different fuels and technologies will therefore be |
| According to the Renewable Fuels Association, as of | | | | developed in parallel. Ethanol reduces dependency on |
| November 2006; 107 grain ethanol biorefineries in the | | | | fossil fuels and Volvo's FlexiFuel programme thus |
| United States have the capacity to produce 5.1 billion | | | | makes a vital contribution to our strategy of |
| gallons of ethanol annually. There are additional 56 | | | | environmental sustainability," concluded Gerry Keaney. |