Biodiesel cars in Singapore

Frugal on fuel
Colin Yong, Today Online 8 Dec 07;

The sooner we can buy biodiesel-fuelled cars, the better for the environment

There is some clatter from the engine compartment and a pronounced drone when driving at speeds under 40kmh.

Otherwise, it's hard to tell that this standard-looking Volkswagen (VW) Passat is capable of using a completely renewable energy source.

Granted, the cars being used in the Singapore Biodiesel Project run on only 5-per-cent biodiesel mixed with 95-per-cent petroleum diesel, but VW approves of the use of 100-per-cent biodiesel for the 2.0-litre Passat.

The project, led by German automotive supplier Bosch, entered its third and final phase on Tuesday. From now until October 2009, 13 Mercedes-Benz and VW cars will be driven around Singapore to test the suitability of biodiesel as an alternative fuel in a hot and humid environment.

The biodiesel used for the trials is processed from palm oil. When burned in an engine, it produces fewer toxic vapours and exhaust emissions compared to standard diesel.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) is one of the partners in the project, as is the National Environment Agency.

Said Ms Aw Kah Peng, the assistant managing director of the EDB: "There is broad consensus that the energy pie needs to evolve to accommodate a more diversified mix which encompasses non-fossil energy options such as wind, biofuels and solar to complement oil, gas and coal."

A key feature in the diesel test cars is a particulate filter in the exhaust system. This traps soot so effectively that there is no visible smoke from the exhaust pipe even when accelerating hard.

"This technology enables an emission reduction of 90 per cent compared to the old diesel cars running in Singapore," said Odd Joergenrud, vice-president for Bosch Automotive Asia-Pacific.

"If modern diesel cars were introduced in Singapore in place of petrol cars, each driver would be able to save approximately 600 litres of fuel a year."

This is a conservative estimate, going from the official fuel economy figures for the petrol and diesel versions of the Passat. A driver in Singapore who covers 20,000km annually would use up to 800 litres less fuel in the diesel car.

At today's fuel prices, that is equivalent to halving his annual $5,000 fuel bill. Even if the price of diesel were equal to that of petrol, savings of more than $1,500 are on the cards simply because diesel cars are more efficient, especially in urban driving conditions.

Over 300km on a mix of city and expressway routes, the test Passat recorded 13.6km/litre, an impressive result for a family car. Most owners can expect to cover almost 800km between fill-ups.

With strong torque from low speeds (a characteristic of all diesel engines), we found the car was amazingly quick off the line, and the typical diesel clatter was all but unnoticeable during normal driving.

It's clear that modern diesels are both quick and very frugal in the real world.

What a pity the current diesel tax in Singapore — equivalent to four times the road tax of an equivalent petrol car — makes ownership of these environmentally-friendly cars such an unrealistic proposition.

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