Transit bus operation with methanol fuel
American and European technology is being used to demonstrate the suitability of neat methanol as a fuel for transit buses. The project is sponsored by the California Energy Commission (CEC), and transit buses are being operated by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District (GGTD). Project management and bus testing are performed by Acurex Corporation. Test data are being obtained on performance, fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, noise levels, and operational suitability. One of the coaches was obtained from General Motors Corporation and the other from M.A.N. in Germany. The GM coach employs a Detroit Diesel Allison 6V-92TA two-stroke-cycle engine, which burns methanol by compression ignition. The M.A.N. engine is a spark-assisted diesel, operating on a four-stroke cycle. Both buses are being tested in parallel with diesel-powered counterparts. In comparing diesel with methanol fuel, road performance is nearly identical for each pair of buses. Fuel consumption is similar on an energy basis. The methanol buses have a cleaner exhaust, with smoke and odor eliminated. Oxides of nitrogen and particulates are also considerably lower with methanol.
- OSTI ID:
- 5744984
- Report Number(s):
- TP-850216
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
BUSES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
DIESEL ENGINES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
METHANOL FUELS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
EXHAUST GASES
NITROGEN OXIDES
PARTICULATES
CALIFORNIA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPRESSION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
DIESEL FUELS
EMISSION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
IGNITION
NOISE POLLUTION
ODOR
OPERATION
ROAD TESTS
SMOKES
AEROSOLS
ALCOHOL FUELS
CHALCOGENIDES
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENGINES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANOLEPTIC PROPERTIES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
RESIDUES
SOLS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS
USA
VEHICLES
WASTES
330102* - Internal Combustion Engines- Diesel
330800 - Emission Control- Alternative Fuels
090210 - Alcohol Fuels- Properties- (1976-1989)
500200 - Environment
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