THE words alternative fuel are the buzz these days with much research being carried out to find new power sources for the motoring needs of the future.
In its inimitable style, Volvo has been in from the start and markets a range of cars that run on combinations of petrol and gas.
One of the most popular is the V70 Bi-Fuel based on the traditional Volvo large estate model.
With V70 Bi-fuel you can run the car on gas and leave the petrol tank to serve as a reserve. This is a great fuel money saver when you consider the low price of gas. You can choose a car to run on either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Bi-Fuel prices kick in at £24,523 for the S LPG model which is just a little more expensive than the lead in petrol only 140 bhp S. Most expensive of the gas options in the SE CNG model which will set you back £27,178 - just a little more expensive than the 170 bhp SE.
So in real terms there is not much difference in price between the two - and it becomes more interesting when you realise there are government inspired powershift grants available.
I was lucky enough to be able to try one of the early LPG cars - a Morris Ital 20 odd years ago - and it was very basic with a massive tank taking up most of the boot. The performance was nothing to write home about either.
The V70, by comparison, is light years ahead in getting the most out of gas power. Its performance is roughly equivalent to petrol versions. Of course gas consumption is higher than petrol but this is more than compensated for by the low price of gas.
The V70 Bi-Fuel drives in a very similar way to the 2.4 petrol. Indeed it is the same engine.
If you do a high mileage this vehicle is worthy of a very close look. It has all the attributes and comfort of the other V70s in the range and has the fuel efficiency which you might not normally expect in a petrol-only car of this size.
FAST FACTS
Volvo V70 S Bi-Fuel (LPG)
Price: £24,523
Mechanical: 140bhp, 2,435cc,5-cyl petrol/LPG engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 127mph
0-62mph: 10.6 secs (
Combined mpg: 23.2 (LPG); 29.7(petrol)
Insurance Group: 13
CO2 emissions: 197 (LPG); 227 (petrol)
BiK rating: 23%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000miles; 3yrs paint; 8yrs anti-rust.