Robert Evans highlights the potential of biomethane to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Uniquely positioned between the technology provider and fleet user community, Cenex is always interested in ways low carbon vehicles can deliver real-world benefits. For example recently we were part of a major trial with Leeds City Council that involved the powering of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) using biomethane fuel. The findings revealed that using biomethane can deliver both greatly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cost savings for UK local authorities.
Leeds City Council began the trial following a review of its total vehicle fleet. This Green Fleet Review, carried out in conjunction with Cenex and Energy Saving Trust, showed that while RCVs made up just seven per cent of its fleet, they were responsible for 25 per cent of total fuel use. Following our advice, biomethane was identified as showing the greatest potential for achieving the necessary savings.
The trial vehicle, a Mercedes-Benz Econic LLG with a spark ignition engine running solely on biomethane gas, is estimated to have achieved a 49% saving in well-to-wheel GHG emissions, compared to the diesel Econics in the council's fleet. This was achieved using a temporary filling station – a more efficient permanent station raises the GHG saving to 64%, with possible 78% savings estimated if gas was generated on-site. Additionally, lower fuel expenditure meant that annual vehicle running costs were estimated to be £2,500 less than a diesel equivalent. While gas vehicles currently cost more to purchase than diesel RCVs, this gap is expected to narrow as production increases.
Extrapolating the results of this trial across the UK fleet of RCVs demonstrates the potential for biomethane as a fuel. Using gas produced from either landfill sites or purpose built anaerobic digesters would save around 80% of emissions compared to diesel, as well as delivering substantial cost savings, due to factors such as the rising cost of diesel and the falling purchase cost of biomethane vehicles.
Ultimately, the potential for saving CO2 and other GHG emissions is the biggest strategic driver for the interest in gas vehicles. Although the fuel price differential drives individual decisions, this differential is largely due to a set of incentives set by government to promote GHG savings.
The public sector and especially local authorities, is under increasing pressure to lead by example in reducing emissions. Although the coalition government has largely removed the set of “National Indicators”, local authorities are still expected to report on the GHG emissions of their own estates, and for many such as Leeds, their RCV fleet will be a significant contributor to overall emissions.
Transport offers the biggest technical challenge to reducing emissions, and heavy-duty vehicles offer the smallest range of emissions reduction options. The energy density of diesel is very high, making it ideal for mobile applications and very difficult to replace, which is why transport has been so far excluded from most policies to tackle GHGs.
For heavy duty vehicles, there are very few mature technologies with the potential to offer GHG savings of 50 – 80% compared to diesel. If more mechanisms are introduced to effectively price carbon emissions, the economic case for biomethane as a vehicle fuel will quickly become compelling. With a pressing need to reduce greenhouse gases, it is imperative that we explore the use of new fuels such as biomethane wherever feasible.
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- Robert Evans highlights the potential of biomethane to cut greenhouse gas emissions
Uniquely positioned between the technology provider and fleet user community, Cenex is always interested in ways low carbon vehicles can deliver real-world benefits. For example recently we were part of a major trial with Leeds City Council that involved the powering of refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) using biomethane fuel. The findings revealed that using biomethane can deliver both greatly reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cost savings for UK local authorities.
- E10: Teething trouble?
As part of the UK’s pledge to meet its net-zero emissions target by 2050, and to align with European fuel standards, E10 is now the country’s standard grade of petrol. Available at the pumps since the start of September, the new fuel contains up to 10% renewable ethanol, instead of the previous 5%, in a bid to improve efficiency and support the continued drive to reduce emissions. As sensible as that sounds on paper, the introduction of E10 has not gone without its teething problems.
For starters, only cars that are compatible with E10 are able to run on it. The RAC recently reported that there could be as many as 6,000 vehicles on our roads that experience some form of issue with using E10 petrol, typically because they have older engines and fuel systems that can be corroded and/or blocked by the ethanol.
Diagnosing the issue
Breakdown companies are already briefing their teams on what to look for with E10, and with a potential increase in failures of engines and fuel systems, garages should make sure their technicians are also in the know – and ready to correctly identify and resolve any issues.
Diagnostics are important here, as the faults caused by E10 could easily be confused with battery or other engine-related failures. We offer a range of diagnostic tools, providing technicians with the capability to pinpoint the exact reason for a breakdown or running issue, and to help guarantee a first-time fix.
We’ve also reviewed our stock and pricing on the key fuel parts that are most likely to be affected by E10, like pumps, filters and even injectors, to ensure we have the right part, at the right price, available immediately.
A long-term solution
Once garages have fixed any problems caused by E10 use, they can then send the customer away with a simple solution that will stop them from arising again – thanks to Wynn’s E10 Protector, the latest addition to our product range.
A dose in the fuel tank before each time a vehicle is refuelled with E10 petrol will lubricate and protect the vehicle’s entire fuel system, stabilise the fuel and prevent oxidation, and restore engine performance and fuel economy. Helping drivers take charge of the situation and prevent ongoing problems is a great way for garages to drive loyalty and trust. If drivers are struggling to cover the cost of an unexpected repair bill, our Payment Assist scheme lets them pay in instalments – helping garages resolve potentially high-value failures and get their customers back on the road.
Ultimately, we’re here to help ensure the independent garages we support can service every vehicle to the highest standard, and never have to turn away a job.
- Win with Lucas Oils!
One lucky Aftermarket reader will win over £250 worth of Lucas Oil products and merchandise this month. The additives in the Lucas Oil Starter Kit are versatile sales products in their own right, and big sellers in the UK, US and most European countries.
- Positive step? Automotive sector responds to Net Zero strategy
The automotive industry cautiously welcomed the government’s recently published road to net zero strategy. The plan lays out a roadmap for the UK to cut its contribution to climate change down to zero by 2050, and covers industry, aviation, home-heating and transport.
- DENSO adds spark to e-Learning platform
DENSO has added a new module dedicated to spark plugs to its online e-Learning educational platform.
