WEBINAR
Cities’ experience with biofuels
14/01/2013 14.00-15.30
Gerhard Ablasser, City of Graz
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Background & Objectives
City of Graz – fact
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265.000 inhabitants
121.000 employees
70.000 daily commuters
4 universities with 50.000 students
area of 127 km²
UNESCO World Heritage since 1999
Cultural Capital City of Europe in 2003
OSMOSE Award 2006
CIVITAS City of the year 2008
CIVITAS Webinar 00/00/2013
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„From the frying-pan into the tank“
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Ökodrive-Ecodrive - the project
1990 Start collection of used cooking oil from
private households
1994 Starting of pilot project - Research work on Biodiesel from
used cooking oil
operation of 2 buses of the public transport service (GVB)
1999 Start collection of used cooking oil from restaurants
2003 EU Project CIVITAS / trendsetter
operation of additional 54 buses with biodiesel
2005 100 % biodiesel public transport fleet (135 buses)
2005 EU Project KAPA / GS equipment with particle catalytic converters
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Collection of used cooking oil
private households
more than 250 restaurants, hotels, snackbars...
Öko-Service / Eco-Service
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Good partnership:
Company SEEGcompany converting used cooking oil to biodiesel
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Company BDI / with Technical University /
Chemical Institute / Transport Company (GVB)
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Good partnership:
Graz Karl Franzens University
Institute for Organic Chemistry
Technical University Graz:
Institute for Internal Combustion
Engines and Thermodynamics
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Good partnership:
Public Transport Company Graz (GVB)
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Technical requirements & Results
•check of all assemblies
supplied with biodiesel
(heaters)
• exchange of fuel hoses
• certification from the engine
manufacturer
• consent from the supplier
of the injection pump
• motor oil change every 30.000 km,
but no special oil was needed
• no greater wear of the engine
• 5 – 8 % higher consumption
• combination with fossil diesel
in winter
• biodiesel is cheaper
( depents on tax regulations )
• scientific examination
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Motives for GVB - public transport operator
• price of biodiesel fuel is lower - no mineral tax
• but: 5 - 8% higher consumption of biodiesel
• pioneer for environment protection
• ecological aspect
• interest in technical progress for better air quality
• image improvement of Public Transport
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Lessons learned I
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you need a very motivated team in all sectors of the partnership that
is responsible for the running fleet
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high international interest about the experience of Graz but less
followers in Austria
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using Biodiesel as a fuel made from waste material was the right step
but only a step in the right direction
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The experience of Graz opened the way for blending biodiesel in a
large scale
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Lessons learned II
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no future for 100% biodiesel with new generations of engines,
EURO VI but a way to do something positive with all older buses
immediately
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problems with particulate catalytic converters;
livetime of 2 – 3 years is not acceptable
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Problems with heating system can be solved with a dual tank system
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to not discuss – you must start to do it
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The future in Graz
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Pilot with 4 CNG Mercedes since March 09
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Hybrid bus test since spring 09
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Electric bus test since February 2013
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preparation of the future way – at the moment it seams to be
CNG with a high focus on local produced biogas
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Using the experience of European projects and learning from
European partners to find the right solution
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focus on other private and public fleets like taxies, public
services, …
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Thank you for your attention
DI Gerhard Ablasser
City of Graz
The Executive Office for Urban Planning,
Development and Constuction,
European Programmes and International Cooperation Unit
Europaplatz 20 / A 8011 Graz / Austria
T +43 316 872 3580
F +43 316 872 3589
mail: gerhard.ablasser@stadt.graz.at
Information : www.graz.at