The trial COBUS 3000 transfer bus fueled with biomethane by Gasrec
Gasrec, the UK’s first commercial producer of Liquid Biomethane (LBM), is entering into a six -month trial with East Midlands Airport to run a modified Cobus 3000 passenger transfer bus using CNG sourced from liquefied biomethane (LBM). The fuel is produced from decomposing organic waste and is suitable for powering a wide range of commercial vehicles. When LBM is used as a vehicle fuel to displace diesel, it can achieve up to 60 per cent reduction in CO2.
The East Midlands Airport transfer bus trial, which is claimed to be a world first, aims to collect information on the potential benefits provided by LBM compared to a similar vehicle fuelled with diesel, namely:
- Air quality improvement
- CO2 emission reduction
- Cost saving
- Vehicle performance and driver feedback.
The bus is fitted with a Cummins-Westport natural gas engine, with onboard storage of 1200 water litres at 200 bar, sufficient for about 35 hours of operation between fills.
A similar trial conducted by on an Iveco Daily refuse collection vehicle, using Gasrec-supplied LBM, yielded a 62 per cent saving in CO2 over diesel.
CEO and founder Richard Lilleystone comments: “We’ve seen the positive environmental impact that LBM can deliver for our existing customers and more particularly in our trials with Iveco. Airports are tasked with reducing their carbon footprint and this is a clear step in the right direction. Businesses are now aware of the environmental and cost savings that can be made by using biomethane over diesel; and the performance improvement over using electricity. Biomethane is a waste-derived storable, transportable, B100 vehicle fuel available today.”
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