DME is not new to Sweden. Volvo has been developing trucks that run on DME since 1996. From 2007-2014 a fleet of 8 Volvo trucks drove nearly 1.5 million kilometres. One truck alone drove 300 000 kilometres, reporting excellent on-road characteristics such as high torque at low speeds, low noise levels and excellent fuel efficiency. This fleet of trucks ran on bioDME produced by Chemrec, a Swedish company at its pilot plant in Piteå. This bioDME was produced as a bi-product of a pulp mill.
Now, DMESweden is looking to leverage what was learned from that experience, and to commercialise and scale DME way beyond the pilot tests that were conducted. Our vision is that by 2030 DME-fueled trucks are as common as diesel trucks are today, enabling Sweden to achieve its ambitious 70% reduction target of GHGs from transport fuels.
But the vision does not stop there. DME can be used in many other applications, from road machinery to portable electricity generators. Sweden can then export these solutions and products to a world that is desperately in need of innovative clean, green solutions.