FPT Industrial leads Swiss-funded project into use of DME in HD diesel engines
By Jim Gibbins - 12th February 2021
Italy / Switzerland – Turin-based FPT Industrial, part of CNH Industrial NV, is leading a Swiss-funded project aimed at reaching European CO2 emission targets* in 2025 and 2030 by making use of alternative fuels and e-fuels* as possible paths to addressing these challenges.
FPT Motorenforschung AG in Arbon, Switzerland, which houses the Research and Development centre for FPT, is undertaking a research project use Dimethyl-ether (DME, CH3-O-CH3), as an alternative fuel in an 11-litre heavy duty engine. DME is a suitable fuel for compression ignition engines and can be produced from several renewable sources. Its chemical properties allow for, with the correct engine hardware configuration and calibration, very low NOx and particle emissions, whilst maintaining high engine efficiency. Challenges in the use of DME as a fuel are mainly manifested in fuel injection equipment.
