Moving forward, Ryszard Woloszyn, speaking for the NGV Poland Association (Stowarzyszenie NGV Polska), presented methane-based fuels from a technical and physicochemical perspective. CNG's high octane number (up to 140), makes it possible to raise an engine's compression ratio, thus enhancing its efficiency and lowering energy consumption. Regardless of nominal fuel economy figures, methane-based fuels are always characterised by ultra low emissions. This is because methane is the simplest hydrocarbon there is (CH4) and, naturally, its combustion produces fewer harmful particles than petrol (C8H18), not to mention diesel (C14H30). The speaker also highlighted the advantages of using methane in its liquefied form (LNG), which compensates high weight of CNG tanks and solves range-related issues. For instance, a 208-litre diesel tank weighs approx. 250 kg (when full), whereas a set of CNG tanks containing the same amount of energy tips the scales at over 1150 kg. Switching to LNG lowers mass to 290 kg, which is much more acceptable.
The penultimate speech was delivered by David Graebe of Gazprom Germania, who also aimed at pointing out the environmental advantages of CNG and LNG over conventional fuels and even over electric propulsion, which is widely considered the most eco-friendly solution. True, an EV emits no fumes directly from the tailpipe, for it has none, but then there is the question of how electric energy propeling the car is produced and – which is rarely taken into account – what happens when an EV runs out of juice in the middle of nowhere. If the driver uses an emergency assistance service, a gas-guzzling pickup truck usually comes along to charge the car with a diesel-powered generator. Where is eco-friendliness in that? The great advantage of CNG and LNG is also that by applying the most suitable state of matter (gaseous or liquefied) for a given application, methane-based fuels can be used with practically any vehicle, vessel or even aircraft! Add to that safety of use and long-time experience with the technology (which is also relatively simple and outstandingly reliable, since methane-powered engines are „clean” and „green” by nature, without the need to apply complicated exhaust gases aftertreatment systems) and there you have it – an effective way to make cars less mean to Mother Nature.
Last but not least, Michal Slizak presented the Solbus Solcity 12 LNG city bus. Even though the fuel and its storage are rather out of the ordinary, maintenance should not be a problem to the bus' operator, since all components underneath the vehicle's „skin” are typical and commonly seen on models of this class offered by other manufacturers. The 12-metre Solcity weighs 10 tons and is capable of carrying 110 passengers, plus a handicapped person in a wheelchair. According to Solbus, this is the best passenger capacity figure in class. The bus is powered by a dedicated, 8,9-litre natural gas engine by Cummins, generating 280-320 PS, depending on configuration. The motor is already Euro 6 emission standard (to become obligatory in 2014) compliant and sips fuel from a 330-litre cryogenic LNG tank, produced by Chart Ferox. The tank's capacity is said to be sufficient for approx. 400 km of range in the city (bigger tanks, good for 500 km of driving, are optional). Obviously, buying LNG is something of a problem nowadays, for there is now hardly any liquefied natural gas and no refueling infrastructure in Poland whatsoever, but companies such as Gazprom are interested in the Polish market in terms of developing the LNG sector. Apart from that, a marine LNG terminal will be launched in 2014, so large batches of fuel will be readily available from there right away.
The Solbus Solcity, as well as its mobile LNG refueling station, was displayed and showcased outside the conference hall. Other vehicles participating in the 2012 edition of Blue Corridor were there as well, for everyone to see, and served as an overview of today's CNG offer of European carmakers. So, there were EcoFuel Passats and Caddies from Volkswagen, Opel Zafiras, Fiat's models from the Natural Power range (Doblo and Ducato), NGT Mercedeses (an E 200, Sprinter vans and Econic truck tractors, including one working for the Biedronka chain of supermarkets) and Natural Power Ivecos – Daily, Eurocargo and Stralis. The exhibition was made more attractive by a Solbus refueling demonstration, which is spectacular due to the freezing of the fuel hose and tank fittings (LNG is approx. -160 degrees Celsius). Other than that, it is nothing more than pouring gas from a large tank into a smaller one. Once the process was over, the cavalcade of vehicles set out from Warsaw to continue its pan-European journey. Let us hope this will be much more than fun and adventure for a group of methane fuel enthusiasts and soon we will be able to see the effects of the entire endeavour, i. e. a substantial growth in popularity for CNG and LNG as motor fuels. It will be for everyone's benefit!
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