Ethanol Buses Set For Test Run In Bangkok

[webfact]

Ethanol Buses Set for Test Run

The Industry Ministry will launch an ethanol-powered bus trial in July, starting with bus Number 21 operated by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority.

Following the launch of the Demonstration of Thailand's First Ethanol ED95 Bus project, Industry Ministry Permanent Secretary Witoon Simachokdee said his ministry will begin a trial of ethanol-fueled buses on Bangkok's bus Number 21 fleet in July.

During the trial period, there will be studies undertaken on benefits and technological restrictions on the engine, the possibility for further development as well as economic assessment.

Then, the ministry will make recommendations on policies to promote complete substitution of diesel with ethanol.

Provided that 1,000 ethanol-powered buses are in use and run 150 kilometers a day, the country's daily diesel consumption will decrease by 60,000 liters.

The transport sector consumes an average of 50 million liters of diesel everyday.

Diesel accounts for 60 percent of total energy consumed in road transportation.

Witoon said domestic ethanol consumption is still very small when compared to the current production capacity.

According to last year's statistics, Thailand produced 2.9 million liters of ethanol a day, while consumption stood at 1.16 million liters.

He added there will likely be as many as 47 ethanol plants in the future, with a combined production capacity of 12.2 million liters.

The permanent secretary said wider use of ethanol will help reduce the country's dependence on oil import as well as protect the environment as ethanol is much cleaner than fossil fuel.

Besides, it can also help farmers earn more income.

-- Tan Network 2011-06-29

[tw25rw]

They need double deckers..

[tingtongfarang]

They need double deckers..

Now thats a scary idea i hope they dont get!

[tw25rw]

They need double deckers..

Now thats a scary idea i hope they dont get!

Why are you scared of double decker busses?