letter from europe By Doug Jack
An overview of alternative fuels in Europe
An articulated biogas bus built by MAN for the Swedish market.
As I visit manufacturers the subject of alternative fuels and drive systems is always on the agenda. Heavy taxes on diesel in Europe make the fuel considerably higher priced than in North America. Still, operators acutely aware of fuel economy generally prefer to stay with diesel because of its ready availability. With stark warnings from green lobbies about fossil fuels running out, it is simply not acceptable to say that fuel will not run out in one’s own generation, a problem for
future generations. This is why manufacturers are trying to think ahead. They do not want to wake up one day and find their investments in diesel engines rendered obsolete by electric motors. Currently, diesel engines in the European Union must have emission limits that comply with the Euro 5 standard. Euro 6 goes into effect January 2014, which is broadly similar to EPA 2010. Several manufacturers have announced Euro 6 engines already.
The only LNG bus in Europe shows the fuel tank above the transverse Cummins engine.
36 May 2012
Hybrid sales low Sales of hybrid buses in Europe are still relatively low, but with the higher price of diesel in Europe, the payback period for hybrid buses is becoming more realistic. Normally government funding makes up the difference between a standard diesel vehicle and the hybrid unit. Volvo has sold its in-house ISAM hybrid system in more than a dozen European countries. However, the leader, in volume terms, is Alexander Dennis with BAE Systems, almost wholly in the United Kingdom, but with some units soon to enter service in Spain. With Allison, Eaton, Siemens and Vossloh Kiepe also offering hybrid systems there is plenty of competition in the European market. BAE Systems also is working on stop-start technology. Buses fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) have been around in Europe for many years. At one time they held a very significant advantage over diesel buses because of their lower emissions.
BUSRide