Diesel or biomethane? Bus runs on either

A unique dual-fuel, low-emissions bus is making its debut this week at the UK’s leading low-carbon vehicles technology exhibition.

Adapted from a standard Optare Solo single-deck midibus, the vehicle’s Mercedes-Benz engine can be powered by either diesel or biomethane, a low-carbon fuel generated from biowastes. The innovative design can cut pollution and greenhouse emissions in half.

“Dual-fuel use is a very attractive option,” said Bruce Tofield of the University of East Anglia’s Low-Carbon Innovation Centre. “The vehicle can still run on diesel, providing flexibility, but most of the time is running on biomethane gas which is a much cleaner and less polluting fuel.”

He added, “In particular, the cost of conversion of a diesel bus to dual-fuel use is a small fraction of the cost of a new natural-gas bus. Conversion to dual-fuel use is potentially a viable option for most if not all diesel buses in the UK and, indeed, across Europe and more widely.”

The dual-fuel bus was launched by a consortium brought together by UEA’s low-carbon experts. Led by the university’s Low-Carbon Innovation Centre, the consortium includes independent bus operator Anglian Bus, bus manufacturer Optare plc and engine conversion specialists Hardstaff Group of Nottingham.

The bus is on display today and tomorrow at LCV 2009 at the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire. The event, organised by Cenex (Centre of Excellence for low-carbon and fuel-cell technologies), is expected to attract some 2,000 specialists in low-carbon technologies from around the world.

Funding for the dual-fuel bux project came partly from an EU-sponsored Civitas programme in which UEA and Anglian Bus were partners with Norwich, Norfolk County Council and cities across Europe. The Civitas Initiative exists to promote cleaner and better transport in Europe’s cities.

“This conversion shows just how important EU projects can be in helping us learn from what cities elsewhere have done,” Tofield said. “Now we are going one step further and showing how existing bus fleets can be economically converted to low-carbon, low-emissions running. The potential for reducing traffic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from buses and other fleet vehicles in cities in Britain, Europe, and across the world is very exciting.”