Everllence reports successful tests of ethanol-fuelled engine

Augsburg-based Everllence has completed successful tests of the world’s first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke engine. The 90-bore ME-LGIM engine, tested in Japan, ran efficiently across all load points.

The engine firm has led the way in development of methanol-fuelled engines over the last decade. Now, however, the ME-LGIM has run successfully on ethanol as fuel.

Head of Two-Stroke R&D, Ole Pyndt Hansen, said: “The past few years have brought steadily growing interest in ethanol from the market ... With this latest development, we now have the technical know-how from an actual running engine to take us to the next level. Our data confirms our earlier assumption that we could run our ME-LGIM engine on ethanol without issues.”

His colleague, Bjarne Foldaker, the company’s head of Two-Stroke Business, added: “We already have five dual-fuel technologies in service along with an ammonia-powered engine that is on the verge of release. Our position as the world’s leading engine developer within the two-stroke marine segment means that we have a special obligation to push technologies and serve all markets in our efforts to decarbonise the global maritime industry. Now we need legislation in place that considers the case of ethanol as a viable fuel source, and we need a requisite market demand.”