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Oil and coal, the two fossil fuels that today power most of the planet’s industries, heat homes and get vehicles on the move, will dry up one day, although that day may be some time off yet. What is a more acute problem, however, is the emission of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, sulphur and particles from oil and coal.

For the transport industry, which is 97 per cent dependent on oil, the pressure is now on to find alternative fuels. One of the alternatives that many insiders regard as most promising is natural gas.

“Natural gas is one of several alternatives. And natural gas can be better than oil since it produces lower carbon dioxide emissions,” says Magnus Swahn, President of consultancy firm Conlogic which works on the development of sustainable logistics solutions.

Natural gas consists primarily of methane, which upon combustion releases 30 to 50 per cent less carbon dioxide than oil does and about 40 per cent less nitrogen oxide. And unlike oil, natural gas does not release sulphur, heavy metals or ash into the air.

Not all the Earth’s natural gas reserves have been fully charted, but those that have been discovered are very large compared with the planet’s known oil reserves.

A switch to natural gas in the transport industry could be one way out of oil dependency and would result in a considerably lower environmental impact.

“However, if combustion takes place with the Otto cycle’s poorer efficiency rating, this benefit is erased,” warns Magnus Swahn.

This is a fact about which Swedish commercial vehicle manufacturer Volvo Trucks is fully aware.

“The diesel engine’s efficiency rating is a massive 30 to 40 percent higher than that of today’s gas-powered vehicles using spark plug technology according to the Otto cycle,” explains Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director of Volvo Trucks.

Source: http://www.volvotrucks.com/trucks/global/en-gb/newsmedia/pressreleases/Pages/pressreleases.aspx?pubId=9189

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