New Scania Gas Engine Designed for Long-distance Transport

Scania has a new gas engine is designed for long-distance transport and on construction sites.  It boasts 410 horsepower and 2,000 Nm – well in line with diesel engines of a similar size.

Scania’s launch of the OC13 gas engine marks the start of alternative fuel solutions for the new truck generation. The OC13 is based on Scania’s well-proven 13-litre engine. The engine works according to the Otto principle with spark plugs and complete combustion.

There is a growing interest in operating vehicles on biogas or natural gas in countries such as Italy and France as a result of increased availability, improved infrastructure and good economic viability for hauliers. The sustainability aspects are also important – even natural gas provides a CO2 reduction of approximately 15 percent.

Scania’s gas engines are based on stoichiometric combustion, i.e. complete combustion of both fuel and oxygen. Similar to a petrol engine, the combustion is initiated by means of spark plugs. The pre-mixing of the fuel takes place upon entry into the cylinders.

“Throughout development, our aim has been to ensure the best possible driveability,” explains Folke Fritzson, Senior Engineer at Scania R&D and part of the team developing Scania’s gas engines. “The performance and characteristics should correspond to that of a modern diesel engine.”

The new 13-litre gas engine is always available with the company’s automated gearboxes, which means that gear changing and driving comfort are top-class for the driver, with fast, unhesitating gear selections.

“Everything indicates that we are heading towards a breakthrough for gas engines, including heavier trucks for long-distance transport and construction-site vehicles,” says Henrik Eng, Product Director Urban, Scania Trucks. “Everyone can now benefit from good driveability and driver comfort. We also see that the rapidly growing gas infrastructure in several European countries spurs interest in using this alternative fuel.”

Category: Engines & Drivetrains, General Update, News