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^IKFB SWEDISH TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH BOARD oifinrHffiWioN of tub document b unlwit®^ s constituted today, the transport sector is notsustainable in the long run because it is based almost entirely on non- replenishable natural resources which, when combusted, Arelease emissions that can cause serious harm to human beings, animals and the natural environment. Therefore, in order to achieve a sustainable transportsystem, it is imperative to achieve a means of propulsion which is based on renewable energy sources in every phase of production and distribution. It will take time to develop and test such a transport system. The responsibility for developingsuch a sustainable transport system is an assignment which must be approached as a common cause, involving both the official agencies of society and the business sector and international cooperation. The KFB program for biobased fuels - engine alcohols and biogas - has been underway since the summer of 1991, and will be concluded at the end of 1997 or early 1998. The objective is to allow various concerned parties, politicians, producers, distributors, vehicle operators, etc., a basis for deciding about possible future investments in biofuels.

KFB Information 1996:11 ISSN 1104-4659 December, 1996 DISCLAIMER

Portions of this document may be illegible in electronic image products. Images are produced from the best available original document Innehall

Why Biobased Fuels?...... 4 KFB’s Assignment...... 5 First, absolute alcohol...... 6 ... then mixed fuels...... 6 ... and biogas...... 6 A Variety of Approaches...... 7 Adaptation and Distribution of Fuels...... 7 Evaluations...... 8 Information...... 9 Miscellaneous...... 9 Work Currently Underway, in the Planning Stage, or Completed 10 Comprehensive Studies...... 10 Absolute Alcohol...... II Mixed Fuels...... 14 Biogas...... 14 Pivotal Areas of Challenge 16 Technology...... 16 Environment and Health...... 16 Economy...... 17 Why Biobased Fuels?

Every kind of combustion produces waste especially carbon dioxide, C02 . The products. Many of them are harmful to our amount of C02 in the atmosphere is environment and to our health. The constantly increasing, and many combustion engines of cars, buses and researchers believe that in time this can trucks produce large quantities of such mean large-scale and dramatic climatic undesirable substances as carbon anomalies all over the world. monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxides Consequently, the Swedish and hydrocarbons. It is true that new and Government has determined that we must ’’cleaner” fuels, as well as moreenergy- reduce C02 emissions. But that will be efficient engines and the introduction of difficult to achieveas long as our vehicles catalytic converters, have improved the run on fossil fuels; in that case, there is no situation appreciably, even though a large other prospect than an increase of C02 in part of this environmental gain is negated the atmosphere. by increasing transportation, higher speeds, The solution may be biobased fuels derived heavier vehicles, and so on. Still, there is at from renewable raw materials, such as least one major exceptionto this progress: we have not yet come to terms with the Sulphur dioxide emissionof the so-called greenhouse gases, tons/year 10 000-1 The figures illustrate the emissions of nitric 9 000- oxides, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxideand 8 000- carbon dioxidefrom road traffic. Emissions of 7 000- the first three have decreased and are expected to go on decreasing, while the 6 000- emission of carbon dioxide is increasing and is 5 000- expected tokeep on increasing. The 4 000- introduction of new alternatives (e.g. biobased fuels and electric/hybrid electric vehicles) may 2 000- possibly reverse the trend for carbon dioxide as well. (Source:Swedish National Road Administration 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Environmental Report 1993.)

Nitric oxides and Hydrocarbons tons/year CaMMWMMmMMt «BBee**H8S3Sfc Carbon dioxide tons/year

200 000"i 20 000 000-i 180 000- 18 ooo ooo- 160 000 16 000 000 140 000 14 000 000 120 000 12 000 000-

100 000- 10 000 000 80 000- 8 000 000

60 000 6 000 000- 40 000 4 000 000-

20 000 2 000 000- 0-r----r-—r- 1980 1985 1988 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

4 wood products and grains. This would In December 1992, the executive mean that C02 is locked into a closed committee of KFB initiated a program for circuit: the same amount of C02 that is this activity. The aims of the program are released from combustionis absorbed by specified as follows: plants for their growth. The total amount of C02 does not increase. (Observe, however, □ to develop, test and assess technology that this presumes the use of biobased and systems for the use of alcohols as energy also during the transport, motor fuels, production and distribution of these fuels.) □ to encourage large producers and users ICFB’s Assignment to participate actively in development and The energy policy proposition (1990/9188) demonstration projects; prepared the foundation for the Parliamentary decision to allocate KFB □ to increase knowledge about the long­ (Swedish Transport and Communications term utility, cost and environmental Research Board) SEK 30 million per year potential of engine alcohols; for four years to support research and demonstration projects involving the use of □ to determine whether, and to what engine alcohols. Among other things, the extent, engine alcohols are ready to be Government’s proposal states the introduced on a large scale. following. The use of alcohol-based motor fuels KFB’s program focuses primarily on heavy has advantages from the point of view both vehicles because we judge that they of the environment and of national represent a major environmental impact. security. It is important to stimulate the Among the main tasks of KFB is to support development of technology for alternative the development of smoothly-functioning fuels and to conduct experiments with and environmentally-friendly public vehicles in urban areas to gain experience transportation. Hence the development of in handling and using alternative fuels. different kinds of buses is an important

Ethanol, also appli­ cable to Biogas

5 ingredient in the program. diesel oil and gasoline is interesting as a Cooperation and co-financingwith solution in and of itself, since it means other authorities, researchers, producers introducing as much biobased engine and users of vehicles and fuels are alcohol fuel as possible into the propulsion prerequisites for implementing the pro­ system. The quickest way to achieve this is gram. A number of projects were begun with low-level admixture in diesel oil and/ with appropriations from other sources or gasoline. prior to the extant biofuel program, but That is why KFB’s current efforts also nevertheless provide results that can be involve fuel blends that include alcohol. employed in its evaluation. The challenge is to come up with mixed fuels that can be used in most of today’s - First, absolute alcohol.... and naturally, tomorrow’s - vehicles. KFB From the outset, efforts were directed is therefore conducting tests involving primarily in the direction of absolute different types of vehicles and fuel mixtu­ alcohols. The pointof departure was the res. environmental problems in urban areas, In order to achieve a vigorous and where propulsion with absolute alcohol meaningful introduction of mixed fuels, it offersthe greatest potential for the better­ will also be necessary to examine questions ment of both health and the environment. touching on both the production of fuels and the compositionof fuels, as well as ... then mixed fuels... various kinds of politicalincentives. However, it will take a long time fora technology that requires entirely new ... and biogas engines, for example, to have an effect. Yet another alternative fuel cropped up Mixed fuels, which can be used in today’s during the summer of 1993: methane gas engines, are thus interesting during a derived from biobased raw materials. transition period until engines and vehicles Experiments involving vehicles and distri­ designed for absolute alcohol propulsion bution facilities are underway in Linko- have appeared on the market in sufficient ping, Trollhattan, Uppsala and Stockholm. quantities. If, in addition, we consider the CO2 problem, the admixture of alcohol in

A Variety of Approaches

The emphasis here is on field tests of for improving the emissions of both diesel vehicles. Heretofore the efforts have and gasoline engines. A certain amount of primarily involved heavy vehicles - buses development work is being carried out in and trucks - but development and testingof this area, and estimates will be made of the private automobiles are also included in the possibilities for further improvements. project. This includes both vehicles opera­ However,the KFB appropriation is not ting on alcohol (pure alcohol and mixed intended tobe used to developthe actual fuel) and those operating on biogas. production of fuels. Efficient systems for distribution, storage and handling are one prerequisite Adaptation and Distribution of Fuels for the large-scale introduction of It has been demonstrated that the biobasedfuels. The techniques that will be composition of fuels has great significance used in the demonstration project will be

6 somewhat provisional. KFB will, however, the program level, too, estimates will be investigate what long-term and large-scale made of the potential for producing and problems exist, and evaluate the need for using the various fuels, involving different further development. sources, types of vehicles and traffic applications. The effects of large-scale Evaluations introduction will also be assessed. Special resources have been earmarked for □ Evaluation of the various projects is evaluation, focusing primarily on health, carried on continuallyaccording to a environment, technology and economy. special evaluation plan. Autoemission K-E Emissions, and their local, regional and E Consultant is in charge of emission globalimpact on the environment and on measurements and prognoses with regard health, will be measured and analyzed. An to health and the environment. The plan evaluation will be made of the reliability also embraces technological and economic and developmental potential of alcoholand matters. biogas technology. Economic evaluations □ An independent evaluation of the biofuel will be carried out both for the individual program was conducted in the spring of projects and for the overall program. On 1994. It focused on what needed to be done

Ethanol refu Biogas test; in Sweden

Sweden

(Source: SSEU)

i during the remainder of the program period One of the most important consequences of up to 1997. The judgementof this the program is that know-how regarding evaluation was that the program should be ethanol and engines is now widely spread more specifically directed towards, and in municipalities throughout Sweden. This conducted in unison with, the affected undoubtedly implies that there will be little industries and consumers of the fuels. A hesitation in getting underway if/when the desire was also expressed for a kind of decision is made to approve tax subsidies national liaison - a ’’regulatory agency” - for alcohol fuels. At the same time, it is for the long-term use of biofuels in the quite possible that the transmissible know­ transportsector. how and the interest generally stimulated □ As a result of that evaluation, KFB has by the program represent a political factor launched a systemstudy to develop that will encourage such a decision. economic evaluations and estimates of the potential for producing and usingdifferent Information fuels. This systemstudy is described in Great attention has been devoted to infor­ greater detail in the next section. mation as part of the program. The □ At the request of the National Audit individual projects are usually documented Bureau, the IM Group reviewed the in the form of KFB reports, but sometimes biofuels program during the winter of by project participants as well. Project 1995/96. The following summary is reports and other printed materials are representative of the IM Group’s findings: entered in a list of publications that is It is obvious that the 1991 appropriation of constantly updated. SEK120 million launched many activities □ News about the program - and other, in the network. It is also obvious that ’’external” material as well - is presented in today, as compared to 1991, we have a a newsletter that is published regularly. significant number of companies/ □ KFB’s administrative personnel institutions cooperating in what we might systematically participate in conferences call an enginealcohol network. and seminars, both in Sweden and abroad. □ The program has alsobeen presented at The present (February 1996) state of several exhibitions throughout Sweden, knowledge makes it possible tostate with both at more specialized environmental considerable confidence that absolute fairs and in connection with transport ethanol propulsion, at least in the case of conferences. heavy vehicles, functions technically well □ The program area is very international, under Swedish conditions and that the which is reflected in the information mate­ environmental benefitsare considerable. rial; many pivotal texts are published in FFV[Flexible Fuel Vehicles] engines in English, and some also in German and light vehicles are an established French. technology. With regard to ethanol-diesel mixed fuel in ordinary heavy vehicles, the Miscellaneous question remains whether it is harmless to This includes projects and activities that engines over a period of many years. The cannot be directly sorted under the other stakes involved here are enormous. captions. Theyinvolve, for example, Generally, however, it can be said that the regulations and strategic and administrative technical problems, regarding both heavy studies. and light vehicles, are not so complicated but what the auto industrycan solvethem within a few years, if it makes up its mind to do so.

8 Work Currently Underway, in the Planning Stage, or Completed

Comprehensive Studies • Ecotraffic has presented a report on The program embraces some 80 projects operating experiences with heavy vehicles either ongoingor completed. Some of the running on alternative fuels. It covers both larger and foremost of these are described Nordic and international experiments. below. • A report on engine alcohols and • A status report on fossil and biobased regulations has been produced by the engine alcohols has been compiled by Swedish Foundation for Ethanol Ecotraffic. It is also available in a briefer, Development (SSEU). The report is a ’’popular” version (in English as well). The compilation of existing regulations for the report summarizes developmentsbetween handling of engine alcohols. It also 1986-1993 and covers the entire chain from addresses the differences between raw materials to use. It also takes up the methanoland ethanol, and illustrates the impact of emissions on health and the need for specifications pertaining to con­ environment. tent, risk classification, etc. • A similar strategic study in the field of • The Institute for Water and Air biogas has been produced by Vattenfall Conservation Research, IVL, has put Energisystem. This report deals with both together a compilation of energy taxes in the production of biogas and its use as a the transportation field in different vehicle fuel; it, too, is available in a con­ countries. The report describes existing densed version. regulations as well as the principles and • A strategic study of the manufacture, motiveforces for the policies of different distribution and market for engine alcohols countries with regard to taxes and tariffs. has been carried out by Atrax Energi. The The emphasis is on the Swedish taxation report describes the availabilityof biomass system, but the other Nordic countries, the and how it can best be used, and presents EU, the U.S.A. and Japan are also conside­ the necessary conditions for introducing red. ethanol as a fuel and the various • Aspen Utveckling has conducted a consequences that might have from various project on buses in city traffic, a points of view. comparison between bona fide traffic and • The employment of biofuels for different ordinary bicycles and a study of conversion purposes is treated in a study conducted by of motorized bicycles to motorcycles. The IVL (the Swedish Institute for Water and objectiveis to facilitate the transfer of load Air Conservation Research). patterns in real driving conditions to cycles • The prerequisites for utilizing biomass in in an enginelaboratory. the transportsector are being investigated • The possible injurious effects of engine at the Department of Environmental and alcohols on human respiratory passages are Energy Systems at the Lund Institute of being investigatedat the Department of Technology. These prerequisites are Toxicology at the Royal Caroline Institute. determined by, amongother things, the Aldehydes and other substances are created available biomassresources, the costs during the combustion of engine alcohols, involved in utilizing them and in producing and the aim is to study and rank the tial of transport services, and the possible these substances to give rise to environmental benefits resulting from the pathological alterations in respiratory use of biomass. passages.

9 • At the same Institute, the Department of 11. International experiences with Environmental Medicine is conducting a biofuel vehicles. project concerning the evaluation of health risks resulting from vehicles powered by Pure Alcohol engine alcohols. This work includes • A fleet test involving ethanol-powered calculating the health risks of individual urban buses in Stockholm, operated by components of alcohol emissions, assessing Stockholm Transport (SL), was begun in the significance of oxidation catalyzers April, 1990. With 32 vehicles participa­ from the point of view of health, and ting, this was one of the largest such tests comparing the implications for health of in the world. The aim was to find out emissions from diesel and alcohol powered whether it is possible to achieve vehicles. A final report will be presented appreciable improvements in emission during late 1996. values for city buses by using ethanol in • Prior to the conclusion of the biofuels modified engines. The results showed program, KFB will carry out a systems generally lower emission values (see study that will analyze mostof the table), good accessibility for the buses, implications of a large-scale introduction of and that infrastructure problems for biobased fuels. The following substudies ethanol can be solved. This experiment has are included: now been concluded and a final report has been prepared by Tima Projektkonsult. A 1. Compilation of emission data and concise ’’popular” version has alsobeen evaluation of emissions levels of published (in English as well). vehicles. • One of the world’s first fleet tests of 2. Production costs for ethanol, methanol ethanol-powered city buses was initiated and biogas. in the spring of 1985 in Omskdldsvik (by 3. Vehicle costs. OmskoldsviksBuss AB). The original two 4. Infrastructure costs. buses were joined by four more in the fall 5. Energy scales. of 1993, and twomore were added during 6. Economic equilibrium studies. fiscal year 1995/96. A different blend of 7. Survey of reports on biofuels. fuels (a different ignition improver) than 8. Analysis of experiences gained from SL’s has been tried in Omskdldsvik, the introduction of biofuels. where the operating and climate conditions 9. Methanol studies: international are different from those in Stockholm. experiences. This project has very likely contributed to 10. Assessment of impact on health. Scania’s development of ethanol engines for improved environ­ mental performance. Result acc. Result acc. "1994" Goal, to to "Braun­ • A fleet test of ethanol- Regulated Long-term diesel ethanol ECE-R49 schweig" emissions goals powered buses is also (g/kWh) project cycle cycle (g/kWh) (g/km) underway in Skaraborg

Oxides of Nitrogen, County under the 9 3,8 NOx 4,5 6,5 2-3 auspices of Skaraborg Carbon Monoxide, County Transport AB. 15 5 0,1 0,05 0,16 0,05 CO vehicles are involved, 10 of which are rebuilt diesel Hydrocarbons, HC 1,2 0,2 0,16 0,14 0,1 buses and 5 are new buses built for ethanol Particles, "soot" 0,4 0,05 — 0,04 — operation.

Measuring of exhaust emissions in the SL project

10 Amongother things, the objective is Vehicles. This includes accounting for the underway in Skaraborg County under the amount of vehicle wear-and-tear auspices of Skaraborg County Transport contributed by ethanol. AB. 15 vehicles are involved, 10 of which • SVENOL - ethanol powered trucks in are rebuilt diesel buses and 5 are new buses urban traffic. Four vehicles are being built for ethanol operation. Among other tested in Vaxjo, Omskdldsvik and Stock­ things, the objective is to examinethe holm. The project will provide experiences possibilities of converting heavy diesel from this kind of operation, including vehicles to ethanol auspices of Skaraborg distribution and waste treatment. The drive to examine the possibilities of SVENOL project (and others) have made converting heavy diesel vehicles to ethanol it possible to test a number of the engine drive. concepts and systems solutions generated • Flexible Fuel Vehicles that can utilize byother parts of the program. For several fuels and blends of different fuels example, the engine now being used was can be significant for developing a market developed by Volvo and the Chalmers for biofuels. In such FFVs, the blend of Institute of Technology with the support of fuels is detected by sensors that send sign­ KFB’s biofuel program. als for the adjustment of various engine • A project now concluded at the Depart­ parameters. Over 50 FFVs are being tested ment of Human Work Sciences at the around Sweden. Mostof these vehicles are Lulea Institute of Technology dealt with powered by ethanol (E85). Drivingand noise and exhaust emissions from environmental characteristics are monitored ethanolengines in heavy vehicles. The aim and evaluated. SSEU (the Swedish was to reduce the discharge of unbumed Foundation for Ethanol Development) is in fuel and other unwanted emissions, and to charge of the project, and the work will be map the effect on noise pollution that may concludedat the turn of the present year be involved in a changeover from diesel to (1996/97). The first emissions ethanol. The project also included further I measurements (spring, 1996) indicated development of the engine (Scania improved environmental characteristics, but DSC11) used in the SL fleet test mentio­ not to the same extent as for vehicles ned above. exclusively adapted for ethanol drive. • The Department of Thermal and Fluid • A study of the introduction of Flexible Dynamics at Chalmers Institute of Fuel Vehicles has been produced by Technology has concluded a study of the Ecotraffic. development of an alcohol engine for • SSEU is also studying the infrastructure heavy vehicles. The work involved a for ethanol fuelingof Flexible Fuel Volvo engine (TA 73) forethanol and

FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicles) run just as well on pure ethanol (E85) as they do on gasoline and blends of the two. Nearly 100 FFV’s are involved in a study supported by KFB.

11 SSEU and Aspen Petroleum are running fleet tests of vehicles operating on a blend of biobased ethanol, diesel oil and emulsifiers. No modifications have been performed on the engines. This makes it possibleto vastly increase the amount of environmentally friendly fuel in today’s vehicle fleets. (Photo courtesy of the Forest Owners’ Association, Norrskog)

Beraid ignitionimprover. These engines manufacturers are being studied, and in the are now being used in the SVENOL project second phase, two catalyzers developedat (see above). Three different kinds of KTH. The purpose is to find out whether catalyzers were also tested. these newly developedcatalyzers do a • A ’’concept study” of alcohol engines for better job of measuring up to the demands buses at AVL Gesellschaft fur that should be placed on catalyzers for Verbrennungskraftmaschinen in Austria heavy vehicles running onethanol. has been completed. • Lulea University is investigating the • Development of catalyzers is a project prerequisites for using EGR (recirculation currently underway at the Department of of exhausts) in ethanol powered diesel Chemical Engineering at the RoyalInsti ­ engines. The aim of the project is to reduce tute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm in the nitric oxide emissions of ethanol association with the Lulea Institute of powereddiesel engines while maintaining Technology. The work concerns vehicles or improving the emissions values of other operating in urban areas. A final report will gas components. This project is expected to appear in the fall of 1996. result in the development of optimized • KTH is currently developing new monitoring parameters for EGR systems. ’’catalyzer concepts”, i.e. new materials, • Ecotrafficis conducting a study of combinations of materials and dimethylites - DMEs - as fuels for diesel constructions of catalyzers intended for engines. This work includes studying heavy vehicles operating on biofuels. In production and handling techniques as well this project, KTH is cooperating with as the suitability of DMEs as vehicle fuels. Svenska Emissionsteknikand Johnson • A completed project on ignition Matthey pic. This work is based on well- properties of ethanol fuels (Berol Nobel) grounded results from a NUTEK (Swedish was concerned with a numeric model for National Board for Industrial and ignition of ethanol spray with ignition Technological Development) project. improvers. • The Department of Human WorkSci ­ • The Department of Analytical Chemistry/ ences at the Lulea Institute of Technology Arrhenius Laboratory at Stockholm Uni­ is characterizing the release of regulated versityis undertaking a comparison of two and unregulated emissions from five diffe­ different ignition improvers. The aim is to rent catalyzers. In the first stage, three investigate whether emissions from the two catalyzers developed bycatalyzer kinds of systems differ with regard to

12 impact on the environment and health. the Department of Human Work Sciences Both chemical and biological characteris­ at the Lulea Institute of Technology. tics are included. • Aspen Petroleum has conducted tests of the vehicular fuel "Aspen Taxi” in gasoline The fleet test involving pure alcohol has engines. The fuel is a blend of bioethanol shown that there is a great potential for and alkylated gasoline, and is being used in achievingimproved environmental char­ some 80 vehicles. acteristics. Generally speaking, it can be said that there are many environmental Mixed fuels can be used in existing vehicle advantages in using ethanol drive as fleets. Hence there is a great potential for compared with diesel drive, particularly using biofuelswhile simultaneously with regard to carbon dioxide, nitric achieving environmental improvements, oxides,particles and certain toxichydro­ e.g. lower emissions of particles and carbons (particle-bound PAH, Polycyclic carbon dioxide. The experiences gained Aromatic Hydrocarbons). heretofore suggest that an admixture of up Mixed Fuels to 15% ethanol in diesel oil is possible The biofuel program encompasses demon­ without the need for conversion of existing stration experiments involving some 20 engines. Ease of operation is as a rule not diesel vehicles operating on mixedfuels. affected. The experiments also indicate • SSEU and Aspen Petroleum are conduc­ environmental improvements. ting the project "Mixed-fuel Diesel — Emulsifier — Ethanol”. The initial stage Biogas comprised the development of different • The final report of "The Nordic Gas Bus fuel mixtures and a limited number of fleet Project” has been presented. The aim of the tests with vehicles in daily use with project was to remove the obstacles - varying kinds of driving. The project has social, industrial and legislative - impeding now entered a second stage involving the introduction of natural gas and biogas about 25 vehicles running on different propulsion for buses and other heavy blends of fuels. SSEU is the project leader vehicles in the Nordic countries. forsome 20 vehicles, and Aspen is in • VBB-VIAK is making a compilation of charge of the others. This project also international experiences with biogas includes studies of fuel characteristics and vehicles. The aim is to identify the projects the need for and design of fueling facilities, involving biogas operated vehicles around as well as other infrastructure matters. the world, bring together the available • Aspen Petroleum is in charge of efforts to experiences and create possibilities for formulate, test and evaluate a mixed fuel cooperation. Important questions being for diesel engines - "Diesohol”. Aspen has illuminated by VBB-VIAK include the been testing similar fuels for a number of motive forces behind such projects, the years, but with somewhat varying formu­ numbers of biogas vehicles, evaluations of las. The aim of this project is to come up the futureprospects for biogasvehicle with a satisfactory diesel fuel providing technology, operating experiences, hand­ good environmental and operating char­ ling and refueling facilities for gas, and acteristics. exhaust emissions test. • The Department of Heat and Power • The Swedish Hydroelectric Power Engineeringat the Lund Institute of Authority has presented a status report on Technology as carried out a study of the biogas. The report addresses questions literature on blending ethanol in diesel oil. about the production of sludge digestion • A similar study concerning the blending gas, theadditional refinement into a of alcohol in gasoline has been made by usableavailablein a condensed version.

13 • A test of biogas-powered buses in Linko- the gas as fuel in the city’s fleet of ping (LinkopingsBiogas AB) was begun in vehicles. The project will involve ca. 20 January 1991. Sixtuses using converted vehicles. diesel engines (Scania DS 1126) engine • Stockholm Vatten AB intends to test a fuel and various principles for refueling. total of 20 biogasvehicles. The project was Individual chapters are devoted to gas begun in the summer of 1996. The gas is engines and to economic considerations in produced at an existing digester facility in connection with the introduction of biogas. western Stockholm. The report is alsowere involved. The • Uppsala is operating cars, buses and a project also included testingand evaluating garbage truck on biogas. The experiment the infrastructure required for refining was launched in the summer of 1996, and biogas. The project presented a final report involves a total of 13 vehicles. in early 1995, but it has now been extended • The Swedish Gas Association is leading a because of the expansion of production study to specify the quality of biogas used facilities and the vehicle fleet. It is for vehicle fuel. The composition of biogas estimated that ca. 30 gas buses will be varies from one source to another, and operating by the summer of 1997. sometimes even within one and the same • Another biogas project is underway in source. If biogas is to be used as a vehicle Trollhattan. The project is being run by the fuel, this variation poses difficulties for municipal board for technical administra­ manufacturers of vehicles and other tion; the goalis to increase the production equipment, as well as for purchasers and of biogas from existingdigesters and to use users. Pivotal Areas of Challenge

Technology More extensive development work is Further efforts are needed in the required for using biofuels in heavy development of engines and peripherals. In vehicles (diesels) than in gasoline vehicles. principle, the same cleaning technology That is one of the reasons why KFB’s (catalyzers) can be used for light vehicles program is primarily directed at heavy (automobiles) with sparkplug (gasoline) vehicles. The long-term potentials - both engines regardless of whether they run on environmental and technological for - these biofuels or gasoline. The introduction of engineswhen operating on biofuels and Flexible Fuel Vehicles also shows that it is employing new catalyzer concepts are technically feasible to mass produce indeed enormous - greater than for vehicles that can permit a wide range of conventional diesel operation because, fuel formulas. among other things, development work on With the cleaner diesel fuel that has biofuels has existed for a much shorter been introduced on the market, it has time. become possible to use catalyzers even on To cope with Swedish winter heavy vehicles. Many diesel powered conditions, more development will be buses in Sweden today are using required in the area of cold starting systems. catalyzers. Burning ethanol makes it still easier touse catalyzers, since ethanol drive Environment and Health is almost entirely free from the soot The transition from diesel to biofuelshas particles that are produced by combustion the potential to produce cleaner vehicles. in diesel engines and that upset the Going over to alcohol improves an engine’s function of catalyzers. degree of energy efficiency. This means the

14 Compressor Cleansing Compressor High pressure storage Bleeder

Purification plant Refueling station

Gas furnacefor heat production Buses

Digester

Biogas from production to consumption reduction of various kinds of emissions. Sweden’s entry in the EU. Price According to a life cycle analysis stabilization is regarded as one prerequisite conducted by Ecotraffic, it is possible to for encouraging users to make long-term reduce the emission of climate gases on the investments in the new technologies. order of 65-80% as compared to diesel oil Today’s fuel prices, taxes and tariffs and gasoline. Whether this environmental taken together mean that using biofuels potential will actually be fully realized involves excess costs for vehicle operators, depends on a number of factors, however; regarding both vehicles and fuels. In the the choice of technology, for example, can short run, at least, it will be more playa decisive role. expensive to produce domestic biofuels than to import gasoline and diesel oil. But Economy the price picture today does not reflect the Many vehicles have left the prototype true environmental costs. Socioecono­ stage, but they will be more expensivethan mically correct pricing requires that the conventional vehicles because production costs be somehow established for all runs are still limited. Greater demand on environmental effects and included in the the market, and hence larger production price of fuel. This is not being done today, runs, will gradually bring down the cost of and that is why solutions that are vehicles. unfriendly to the environment have the The same thing applies to fuels. Reports advantage. Hence government intervention from the U.S.A. indicate major reductions of various kinds is needed if the in the costs of both ethanol and methanol introduction of biofuels if to be made in the future. Since both of these can be possible.Modifred principles of taxation transported around the world just like fossil based on environmental concerns requires fuels, and can replace other raw materials, knowledgeabout the connections among a it is necessary to examine the development number of different systems. The intention of the international market for biofuels. is to present a number of these connections This is being done within the framework of more clearly in KFB’s systems study. the systems study. Many users, however, are worried about the rise in ethanol prices following

15 Those desiring further information about KFB’s biofuels program can receive a free subscription to the newsletter "Ren Traffic” (Clean Traffic - sorry, onlyin Swedish). This also includes a list of publications and other information about KFB’s twovehicle programs: "Biobased Fuels” and "Electric and Hybrid Electric Vehicles”. Information about the biofuelsprogram is also available on KFB’s home page: http://www.kfb.se

Mr. Soren Bucksch is in charge of the biobased fuels program. Ph int +46+(0)8+459 17 29. Mr. Tommy Mansson works with the systems study and an overall evaluation of the program. Ph int +46+(0)8+459 17 02.

^IKFB SWEDISH TRANSPORT & COMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH BOARD

KFB (The Swedish Transport and Communications Research Board) is a government authority with planning, initiating, coordinating and supporting functions in Swedish transport and communications research. KFB’s activities encompass transportation, traffic, postal services and telecommunications, as well as the impact of transports and communications on the environment, traffic safetyand regional development. KFB is also responsible for information and documentation within its areas of responsibility.

Postal address: Box 5706, S-114 87 Stockholm, Sweden Visiting address: Linnegatan 2, Stockholm Phone: 08-459 17 00; Int: +46 8 459 17 00 Fax: 08-662 66 09; Int: +46 8 662 66 09