Fredericton buses to use biofuel additive
CBC News Tuesday, February 5, 2008 | 11:32 AM AT
Transit buses in Fredericton will soon include a spoonful of biofuel in their tanks with the aim of reducing emissions and fuel costs.
As a test run, the city added 15 millilitres of an additive derived from canola, mustard seed and ethanol to the 69-litre tanks of three buses in its fleet last year, said Coun. Tony Whalen.
The additive, 4 Plus Premium Biodiesel, is made by New Brunswick-based Eastern Greenway Oils Inc.
Six buses were used during the study from three different eras ranging from 1994 until 2006. Three of the vehicles used the additive and the other three didn't.
The buses were paired by engine type to make a comparison regarding use of the additive. Mileage was recorded and emissions monitored by University of New Brunswick chemical engineer Frank Collins.
Baseline testing of emissions were taken from the buses and levels of nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide were measured weekly on warm engines.
According to Collins's findings, the three-month study of buses using the additive recorded a 65 per cent reduction in carbon monoxide emissions when compared against the control buses. Two buses showed no appreciable change in fuel consumption while the third showed a 20 per cent increase in its fuel economy.
No appreciable changes were found in the buses' nitrogen oxide or sulphur dioxide emissions.
A one per cent improvement in combustion efficiency was also found as the additive helped to lubricate the engine, reducing maintenance, according to Collins's report. Under certain conditions, the improvement could mean each bus would use about 106 litres less diesel annually, according to the study.
The use of a small amount of additives creates a premium diesel, according to Collins's report. It improves mileage slightly, reduces emissions and leads to increased combustion efficiency and performance, the report said.
The additive is like a laundry detergent for petroleum diesel, said Ray Carmichael, manager of business development with Eastern Greenway Oils.
"It gives it more effectively a more clean combustion," Carmichael said. "You're effectively burning all the unused carbon components that are not going out."
Using the biofuel will see greenhouse-gas emissions in the city decrease by 2,200 kilograms per year, Whelan said.
The biofuel is also non-toxic and would have no effect on the environment if it were to spill, he added.
The biofuel will begin to be added to the 27 transit buses' tanks this week.
The city will also be exploring introducing the additive to the tanks of their other diesel vehicles, including snowplows and trucks, Whelan said.