RUNNING BUSES ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS: A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMME

The US Federal Bus Demonstration Programme is designed to study comprehensively the alternative fuels currently used by the bus industry. It is managed by the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (RNEL). Selected buses, used by the transit agencies of eight US cities, are running on five alternative fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, ethanol, and biodiesel blend. Four alternative fuel engines are being tested. The information collected covers the emissions, performance, reliability, fuel economy, and cost of the buses. A transportable chassis dynamometer was designed and constructed to test the emission levels on site. Engines fuelled with CNG emit almost no particulates. Buses fuelled by ethanol and methanol also emit fewer particulates than comparable diesel buses. Emissions of other pollutants were more variable than expected. Engine technology and proper vehicle maintenance are also crucial to reducing emissions. Performance and reliability were similar with alternative fuels and with diesel. Fuel consumption fell by over 10% with CNG or LPG/diesel. DOE also runs demonstration programmes on light-duty vehicles (cars and vans) and on lorries of all sizes. Information dissemination is an important part of all these programmes.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09219811
• Corporate Authors:

  CADDET ENERGY EFFICIENCY

  PO BOX 17
  SITTARD,   Netherlands  6130 AA
• Authors:
  • BAILEY, B K
  • Norton, P
  • MOTTA, R C
• Publication Date: 1997-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 10-2
• Serial:
  • CADDET ENERGY EFFICIENCY NEWSLETTER
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: CADDET ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  • ISSN: 0921-9811

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Buses; Costs; Federal government; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Gases; Pollutants; Tests
• Uncontrolled Terms: Decreases
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 224: Cost; 9009: Decrease; 2442: Emission; 3850: Fuel; 232: Fuel consumption; 6734: Gas; 183: Government (national); 2417: Renewable energy; 6255: Test; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00749631
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jun 26 1998 12:00AM