Singapore explores use of bio-diesel with state-of-the-art vehicles

Channel NewsAsia 4 Dec 07;

SINGAPORE: Singapore has been chosen as the site to test out a green fuel.

The project, led by German engineering firm Bosch, hopes to change the negative image of diesel-powered vehicles and promote bio-diesel as an alternative environmentally friendly fuel.

The cars in the project are powered by Palm Oil Methyl Esters (POME B5). It is a fuel mixed with conventional diesel and 5% of palm-based bio-diesel.

A visual test was set up to prove that vehicles using POME B5 emit cleaner fumes compared to those using conventional fuel and technology.

Next, tests will also be conducted to show that bio-diesel vehicles with modern technology have 33% more fuel efficiency than conventional ones.

These bio-diesel vehicles will also be tested to see if they have lower emission rates, of up to 25%.

The bio-diesel project is into its third and final testing phase. Besides Bosch, those involved in the project are car makers Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, Shell Eastern Petroleum and bio-fuel producer Nexsol.

The Singapore government agency partners in the project are the Economic Development Board and the National Environment Agency.

By the end of October 2009, those involved in the project hope to change the negative image of diesel-powered vehicles.

When one thinks of diesel, images of old goods vans or pickup trucks emitting smoke from their exhaust come to mind.

Managing director of Bosch in Southeast Asia, Cem Peksaglam, said: "The image of diesel vehicles, I would say not only in Singapore but also in Southeast Asia and many countries in Asia Pacific is negative due to the fact that most heavy duty vehicles are using very old diesel technology.

"This is one of the main obstacles. We also need education, we need to change the image of diesel-passenger cars here and in Southeast Asia."

Despite the advantages, industry players say it is impractical for bio-diesels to fully substitute conventional fuel. To do so, the entire infrastructure of the petroleum industry must be changed.

There is also the question of the supply of alternative fuel.

Kenny Koh, head of marketing for Peter Cremer(S)GmbH, said: "Today you can have people looking at other renewal sources, like using seaweed technology. They are trying to plant non-edible oils like jathropha and camelina.

"But, at the same time, it becomes an issue. If I have available, fertile land that can be used to plant something, why would I want to plant something that is non-edible?

"I just plant something that is edible, and can be used by both segments of the market. So I don't think that it is a very practical solution to say the whole world has to be on a B100 bio-diesel situation." - CNA/ir

Biodiesel cars get a tryout
Matthew Phan, Business Times 5 Dec 07;

THE exhaust is clean and the drive is smooth. And the handling of the massive Mercedes-Benz is as light as that of a much smaller car. Nothing but the tone of the engine indicates that a diesel unit - not a petrol one - sits under the bonnet.

Road tests of 13 German cars that run partly on palm biodiesel kicked off yesterday in an attempt to prove that diesel cars can be cleaner and more fuel-efficient than even some hybrids. The cars are equipped with diesel particulate filters not yet available in Singapore and run on a biodiesel blend containing 5 per cent palm oil methyl esters (Pome B5).

Initial lab tests in Germany showed that the cars emit less than 0.002 grammes of particulate matter per kilometre - far cleaner than the average diesel vehicle in Singapore and a massive 60 per cent less than the stringent Euro V standard.

'You can take the air on an average Singapore day - the exhaust coming from the cars will be even cleaner than that,' said Odd Joergenrud, vice-president of sales for Robert Bosch (SEA), which designed the engines and is coordinating the tests.

True or not, the tests showed that the cars also surpass Euro V standards for nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions. According to Bosch, quoting figures from European automobile club ADAC, the vehicles has more torque and is more fuel-efficient than some hybrids.

A diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz S420 CDI has maximum torque of 720 Nm at 2,200 rpm compared to 520 Nm at 4,000 rpm for the Lexus LS600h. The Mercedes also travels 10.1 km on a litre of fuel, compared to 7.87 km for the Lexus.

Among mid-range models, versus the Toyota Prius, the Volkswagon Polo Blue Motion performed slightly worse in terms of carbon emissions and fuel consumption but has more torque and is cheaper.

Despite performance however, road tax on diesel engines penalises users, said Mr Joergenrud. The Mercedes S420 CDI would have a tax of over $18,500, compared to less than $6,000 for the Lexus LS600h, which would also qualify for more than $50,000 in green vehicle rebates. The average 2-litre diesel car would save its owner almost $2,000 in fuel cost but cost almost $5,000 more in road tax every year.

'The government needs to look at a tax system that benefits environmentally friendly cars,' said Mr Joergenrud.

Meanwhile, Bosch and its eight partners - including the National Environment Agency, Economic Development Board, Shell and Nexsol - will endurance-test the cars until October 2009. The object is to see whether the new Pome B5 fuel can run in modern diesel engines in Singapore's weather and road conditions.