Biofuel Volvos prepare to clean up

Volvo is to offer its cars equipped with an E85 bioethanol engine, joining Ford and Saab as the UK leaders in selling the alternative fuel

Auto Express Car Reviews

C30 hatchback will provide entry to Volvo’s new range of biofuel cars

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In fact, the Swedish marque has outflanked rivals and gone straight to the top spot. By offering E85 power in the C30, S40, V50 and V70 ranges, it will provide the widest bioethanol selection of any brand.

Initial deliveries are expected in July, although the V70 will arrive later this year. It will use Volvo's 2.4-litre 145bhp petrol unit, modified to run on the green fuel. The other models will use a version of the 125bhp 1.8-litre powerplant, linked to a five-speed manual transmission.

There's a slight price premium for buying a bioethanol Volvo, but the line-up starts at £17,795 for the C30 1.8F SE3. Due to the limited availability of the fuel, however, the company expects to sell only about 100 biopower cars a year.

Meanwhile, work has started on a £250million bioethanol factory on Teesside. Once it's completed, it will be the UK's largest producer of the fuel, supplying 400 million litres a year from homegrown wheat.