Queensland’s Redland City Council is working with local firm, Terra Fuel Technologies, on a project that brings Council’s diesel vehicles closer to an environmentally sustainable solution.
Redland’s recently retired Mayor, Don Seccombe, unveiled the project in March at an information session and vehicle demonstration that outlined its financial, performance and environmental benefits.
In 2005, Council joined forces with Terra Fuel Technologies, putting its ethanol co-fuelling (eco fuelling) technology through Council testing.
The technology, which uses ethanol as a co-fuel with diesel, rather than blended fuel, was retrofitted to vehicles. This means the fuels are stored in separate tanks on the vehicle and only combine in the engine’s combustion chamber.
The initiative sees a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that is similar to that of biodiesel and ethanol diesel blends. However, unlike its competitors, the eco fuelling system actually increases the engine’s horsepower and torque output, leading to an increase in vehicle driveability and net fuel economy. Fuel consistency and quality issues are also overcome.
After initially testing eco fuelling in three key diesel vehicles – a new Holland tractor, a Ford courier utility and an Isuzu four-tonne tip truck, Redland has converted a further 40 diesel vehicles and is seeking further funding sources to assist in converting the remainder of the fleet.
Proven benefits have been validated through ongoing Council monitoring, greenhouse gas emission testing by Terra Fuel Technologies, as well as dynamometer testing and oil sampling at two independent facilities.
These benefits include:
- fuel savings
- enhanced engine performance leading to
reduced greenhouse gas emissions savings
of over 447 tonnes per annum - carbon trading credits should a scheme of
this nature be introduced in Australia - the ability for the retrofitted device to be
transferred between vehicles - reduced engine temperature, which is
important for long haul fleets.
The Queensland Government is supporting the project through its Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan 2005–2007. The plan has covered one third of costs, with a $100,000 grant for the supply and installation of the ethanol fuel saving devices.
Mayor Seccombe said the State Government funding has greatly assisted Council in converting 43 out of the 185 diesel vehicles in the fleet.
“We are now seeking further sources of support for the remainder of the vehicles and for tanks to be installed at our depot,” Mayor Seccombe said. “Although the eco fuelling device has proven its value at individual fleet level, this is one step in the development of technology expected to have broad ranging applications.”
Terra Fuel Technologies has now teamed with a group, headed by University of Michigan and including peak vehicle manufacturing industry bodies and United States government agencies, to combine a number of cutting edge technologies to hopefully create a new generation of environmentally friendly diesel vehicles.
For further information contact Susie Norman at Redland City Council on (07) 3829 8874.
