BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport

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BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport (BEST) was a four-year project financially supported by the European Union for promoting the introduction and market penetration of bioethanol as a vehicle fuel, and the introduction and wider use of flexible-fuel vehicles and ethanol-powered vehicles on the world market. The project began in January 2006 and continued until the end of 2009, and had nine participating regions or cities in Europe, Brazil, and China. [1]

Contents

Goals

The BEST project targets included the introduction of more than 10,000 flex-fuel or ethanol cars and 160 ethanol buses; to promote the opening of 135 E85 and 13 ED95 public fuel stations; and to promote the development and testing of hydrous E15 and anhydrous low ethanol blends with gasoline and diesel. [2] [3]

Participants

There were ten participating cities and regions, and several commercial partners. Stockholm (Sweden) was the coordinating city, and other participants were Basque Country and Madrid (Spain), the Biofuel Region in Sweden, Brandenburg (Germany), La Spezia (Italy), Nanyang (China), Rotterdam (Netherlands), São Paulo (Brazil), and Somerset (UK). The commercial partners were Ford Europe, Saab Automobile and several bioethanol suppliers. [4]

Implemented projects

Flexible-fuel vehicles

A major activity in BEST was the promotion of E85 flexifuel vehicles (FFVs). During the project nine BEST sites introduced over 77,000 FFVs, far exceeding the original project's target of 10,000 vehicles. In 2008, out of the 170,000 flexifuel vehicles in operation in Europe, 45% of the vehicles operated at BEST sites; and out of 2,200 E85 pumps installed in the EU, 80% are found in the BEST countries. Sweden stands out with 70% of all flexifuel vehicles operating in the EU. BEST sites also evaluated both dedicated E85 pumps and flexifuel pumps and found very few problems. [5]

Ethanol-powered buses

ED95-powered Scania OmniCity bus in Stockholm. E85bus.jpg
ED95-powered Scania OmniCity bus in Stockholm.

The project included the demonstration of two types of bioethanol-powered buses, a diesel engine Scania bus running on ED95 (sugarcane ethanol plus an ignition improver) and a Dongfeng bus capable of running on both E100 and petrol (flexible-fuel bus). Fuel pumps were also installed at bus depots in the five participating cities. [5]

BEST demonstrated more than 138 bioethanol ED95 buses and 12 ED95 pumps at five sites, three in Europe, one in China and one in Brazil. These trials helped increase knowledge about bioethanol buses in the participating cities. An innovation within BEST was the demonstration of two dual-tank E100 buses developed by the Chinese vehicle producer Dongfeng Motor. All BEST sites will continue to drive their bioethanol buses in regular traffic and some cities are already planning to expand their fleets. [5] [6]

The trial demonstrations showed that ethanol-powered ED95 buses: [5] [6]

Brazil

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden inspecting one of the 400 buses running on ED95 in Stockholm Etanolbuss, kungen.jpg
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden inspecting one of the 400 buses running on ED95 in Stockholm

Under the auspices of the BEST project, the first ED95 bus began operations in São Paulo city in December 2007 as a trial project. [7] The bus is a Scania with a modified diesel engine capable of running with 95% hydrous ethanol with 5% ignition improver. [8] Scania adjusted the compression ratio from 18:1 to 28:1, added larger fuel injection nozzles, and altered the injection timing. [9]

During the first year trial period performance and emissions were monitored by the National Reference Center on Biomass (CENBIO - Portuguese : Centro Nacional de Referência em Biomassa) at the Universidade de São Paulo, and compared with similar diesel models, with special attention to carbon monoxide and particulate matter emissions. [8] Performance is also important as previous tests have shown a reduction in fuel economy of around 60% when E95 is compared to regular diesel. [7]

In November 2009, a second ED95 bus began operating in São Paulo city. The bus was a Swedish Scania engine and chassis with a CAIO bus body. The second bus was scheduled to operate between Lapa and Vila Mariana, passing through Avenida Paulista, one of the main business centers of São Paulo city. [10]

CENBIO laboratory tests found that as compared to diesel, carbon dioxide emissions are 80% lower with ED95, particulate drops by 90%, nitrogen oxide emissions are 62% lower, and there are no sulphur emissions. [11] During the trial was observed that the first bus began presenting sudden halts of the engine in slow running. The problem manifested more frequently in hot days, when the ambient temperature reached 26 °C or more and on top of long grades. After analyzing carefully the problem in the engine's fuel power line, it was discovered that the bus was developed for the European temperate climate, where average temperatures are lower than in tropical climate. In hotter days, the temperature of the fuel line reached up to 58 °C, a temperature that could increase even more when the engine would be slow running. The excessive heating was causing the vaporization of the fuel in the power line of the engine. The solution found was to deviate the fuel return from the engine straight to the tank, and thus, adapting the engine to Brazilian climate conditions. [12]

Based on the satisfactory results obtained during the 3-year trial operation of the two buses, in November 2010 the municipal government of São Paulo city signed an agreement with UNICA, Cosan, Scania and Viação Metropolitana", a local bus operator, to introduce a fleet of 50 ethanol-powered ED95 buses by May 2011. The city's government objective is to reduce the carbon footprint of the city's bus fleet which is made of 15,000 diesel-powered buses, and the final goal is for the entire bus fleet to use only renewable fuels by 2018. [13] [14] [15] The first ethanol-powered buses were delivered in May 2011, and the 50 ethanol-powered ED95 buses will begin regular service in June 2011. [11] [16]

China

In Nanyang, Henan, a new type of bioethanol flexible-fuel bus capable of running on petrol or neat ethanol fuel (E100) was developed by Dongfeng Motor. The buses look like conventional buses and have two fuel tanks, one for petrol and one for E100. Two buses were demonstrated by local bioethanol producer Tianguan, who also supplied E100 for the buses. One fuel pump was set up for the trial. One of the buses uses a modified petrol-engine and the other uses a modified natural gas engine. [5] The new bus types were developed to overcome import duties and are a low-cost alternative for Chinese cities seeking to introduce bioethanol to their public transport systems. [5] Each E100 bus developed by Dongfeng costs around €35,000, which is €1,000 more expensive than a conventional petrol bus. [17]

Italy

Three ED95 buses and one fuel pump was installed in La Spezia. [5]

Spain

Five ED95 buses operated in Madrid and one fuel pump was installed. [5]

Sweden

In Stockholm a total of 127 ED95 buses and five ED95 ethanol fuel stations were funded within the BEST project. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natural gas vehicle</span> Vehicle powered by natural gas

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">E85</span> Fuel blend of 85% ethanol and 15% another hydrocarbon

E85 is an abbreviation typically referring to an ethanol fuel blend of 85% ethanol fuel and 15% gasoline or other hydrocarbon by volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexible-fuel vehicle</span> Vehicle that runs on multiple fuels

A flexible-fuel vehicle (FFV) or dual-fuel vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank. Modern flex-fuel engines are capable of burning any proportion of the resulting blend in the combustion chamber as fuel injection and spark timing are adjusted automatically according to the actual blend detected by a fuel composition sensor. This device is known as an oxygen sensor and it reads the oxygen levels in the stream of exhaust gasses, its signal enriching or leaning the fuel mixture going into the engine. Flex-fuel vehicles are distinguished from bi-fuel vehicles, where two fuels are stored in separate tanks and the engine runs on one fuel at a time, for example, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or hydrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MWM International Motores</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common ethanol fuel mixtures</span> Mixtures of common ethanol fuel types

Several common ethanol fuel mixtures are in use around the world. The use of pure hydrous or anhydrous ethanol in internal combustion engines (ICEs) is only possible if the engines are designed or modified for that purpose, and used only in automobiles, light-duty trucks and motorcycles. Anhydrous ethanol can be blended with gasoline (petrol) for use in gasoline engines, but with high ethanol content only after engine modifications to meter increased fuel volume since pure ethanol contains only 2/3 of the BTUs of an equivalent volume of pure gasoline. High percentage ethanol mixtures are used in some racing engine applications as the very high octane rating of ethanol is compatible with very high compression ratios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcohol fuel</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethanol fuel in Brazil</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alternative fuel vehicle</span> Type of vehicle

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Biofuel is fuel that is produced from organic matter (biomass), including plant materials and animal waste. It is considered a renewable source of energy that can assist in reducing carbon emissions. The two main types of biofuel currently being produced in Australia are biodiesel and bioethanol, used as replacements for diesel and petrol (gasoline) respectively. As of 2017 Australia is a relatively small producer of biofuels, accounting for 0.2% of world bioethanol production and 0.1% of world biodiesel production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biofuel in Sweden</span> Use of renewable fuels from living organisms in Sweden

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biofuels by region</span> Use of biofuel as energy source across the world

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of ethanol fuel in Brazil</span> Aspect of history surrounding ethanol fuel in Brazil

The history of ethanol fuel in Brazil dates from the 1970s and relates to Brazil's sugarcane-based ethanol fuel program, which allowed the country to become the world's second largest producer of ethanol, and the world's largest exporter. Several important political and technological developments led Brazil to become the world leader in the sustainable use of bioethanol, and a policy model for other developing countries in the tropical zone of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Government policies and technological advances also allowed the country to achieve a landmark in ethanol consumption, when ethanol retail sales surpassed 50% market share of the gasoline-powered vehicle fleet in early 2008. This level of ethanol fuel consumption had only been reached in Brazil once before, at the peak of the Pró-Álcool Program near the end of the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive industry in Brazil</span> Overview of the automotive industry in Brazil

The Brazilian automotive industry is coordinated by the Associação Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotores (Anfavea), created in 1956, which includes automakers with factories in Brazil. Anfavea is part of the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles (OICA), based in Paris. In 2021, the annual production exceeded 2.2 million vehicles, the 8th largest in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil</span> Overview of the role of flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil

The fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in Brazil is the largest in the world. Since their inception in 2003, a total of 30.5 million flex fuel cars and light-duty trucks were registered in the country, and over 6 million flexible-fuel motorcycles, both by March 2018. The market share of flex-fuel autos and light commercial trucks represented 88.6% of all light-duty registrations in 2017. There were over 80 flex car and light truck models available in the market manufactured by 14 major carmakers, and five flex-fuel motorcycles models available as of December 2012.

The fleet of flexible-fuel vehicles in the United States is the second largest in the world after Brazil, and there were more than 21 million 85 flex-fuel vehicles registered in the country by the end of 2017. Despite the growing fleet of E85 flex-fuel vehicles, actual use of ethanol fuel is limited due to the lack of E85 refueling infrastructure and also because many North American flex-fuel car owners were not aware they owned an E85 flex-fuel vehicle. Flex-fuel vehicles are common in the Midwest, where corn is a major crop and is the primary feedstock for ethanol fuel production. Also the U.S. government has been using flex-fuel vehicles for many years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethanol fuel by country</span>

The world's top ethanol fuel producers in 2011 were the United States with 13.9 billion U.S. liquid gallons (bg) and Brazil with 5.6 bg, accounting together for 87.1% of world production of 22.36 billion US gallons. Strong incentives, coupled with other industry development initiatives, are giving rise to fledgling ethanol industries in countries such as Germany, Spain, France, Sweden, India, China, Thailand, Canada, Colombia, Australia, and some Central American countries.

References

  1. ↑ "About BEST". BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  2. ↑ "BEST Targets". BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  3. ↑ Moreira; et al. (2008-06-18). "Projeto BEST – Bioetanol para o Transporte Sustentável" (PDF) (in Portuguese). IEE/CENBIO, Universidade de São Paulo. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2008-11-22.Abstract also presented in English.
  4. ↑ "About BEST". BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 BEST Cities and Regions (2009). "BioEthanol for Sustainable Transport: Results and recommendations from the European BEST project" (PDF). Environmental and Health Administration, City of Stockholm. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  6. 1 2 BEST (2009). "Buses: 138 buses in five places". BEST Europe. Archived from the original on 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  7. 1 2 "Começa a circular em São Paulo ônibus movido a etanol" (in Portuguese). Estado de São Paulo. Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  8. 1 2 "São Paulo joins EU's BEST project with pure ethanol bus trial; over 400 in operation so far". Biopact. 2008-01-31. Archived from the original on 2008-09-22. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  9. ↑ "Sao Paulo Puts Ethanol Bus into Service in BEST Project". Green Car Congress. 2007-12-23. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  10. ↑ Fernando Saker (2009-11-13). "São Paulo recebe segundo ônibus movido a etanol" (in Portuguese). Centro Nacional de Referência em Biomassa. Archived from the original on 2011-08-13. Retrieved 2011-05-28.
  11. 1 2 Martha San Juan França (2011-05-26). "São Paulo ganha frota de ônibus a etanol". Brasil Econômico (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-23. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  12. ↑ Moreira, José Roberto; Sandra Maria Apolinario & Suani Teixeira Coelho (2010). "Ethanol Usage in Urban Public Transportation - Presentation of Results" (PDF). Brazilian Reference Center on Biomass (CENBIO). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-05-29. Report 2010-36-0130I
  13. ↑ "São Paulo terá primeira frota de ônibus movida a etanol". Terra Networks (in Portuguese). Reuters. 2010-11-25. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  14. ↑ Eduardo Magossi (2010-11-25). "Cosan fornecerá etanol para 50 ônibus de SP". O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  15. ↑ "São Paulo putting 50 Scania ethanol buses into service". Green Car Congress. 2010-11-29. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  16. ↑ "Substituição de diesel por etanol: vantagem que novos ônibus trazem à cidade de São Paulo". UNICA (in Portuguese). 2011-05-26. Archived from the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2011-05-27.
  17. ↑ "Higher Costs for Bioethanol Buses". BEST Europe. Archived from the original on 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
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