Volvo Car Corp. today begins selling a more environmentally sound car that runs on both gasoline and compressed natural gas.
The new Volvo V70 Bi-Fuel, which is mounted with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine and a 92-liter tank for compressed natural gas, will be the first hybrid car using both fuels to be sold in Japan, according to Volvo Cars Japan Corp.
Volvo introduced a similar hybrid in Europe two years ago. The Volvo V70 Bi-Fuel, which is based on the Volvo V70, a station wagon with a 2,500cc engine displacement, will sell for 4.95 million yen. The Volvo V70 is priced at 4.1 million yen.
According to the firm, the hybrid does not emit sulfur oxides, its nitrogen oxide emissions are 85 percent less and carbon dioxide emissions are 20 percent to 30 percent less than ordinary gasoline vehicles.
Natural gas is also 20 percent cheaper than gasoline when driving the same distance, according to the firm. The new car can be driven 200 to 240 km when only powered by natural gas. The range expands to 700 km when both gasoline and natural gas are used.