European Commission awards prize to hydromethane bus

17 settembre 2015

1 min di lettura

(AGI) Rome, Sept 17 - The European Commission has awarded the"Best Life Environment 2014" prize to the MHyBus hydromethanebus project developed by Italian National Agency for NewTechnologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development(ENEA), along with Emilia-Romagna hi-tech consortium Aster, gasproducer Sol, public transport company Start Romagna and EmiliaRomagna region, reported ENEA. The bus produces lower CO2emissions than other public transport vehicles due to thecomposition of the fuel, a mixture of 15 percent hydrogen (byvolume) and 85 percent methane. "The addition of hydrogen,"said Antonino Genovese, test manager for the agency, "hasallowed the reduction of CO2 emissions due to the lower carboncontent of the fuel, and by virtue of the best combustionconditions which have also reduced the specific consumption.""ENEA researchers have been involved in the development of thevehicle, laboratory tests, the hydromethane refuellingequipment and road tests," the statement said. "Trials haveshown that the greatest expense is the filling station, whilethe engine can be adapted to the new fuel at modest cost.Having passed all the technical tests and reaching themilestone of 45,000 kilometres on the road, the Ministry ofTransport has awarded the bus a licence. The prototype bus isin regular service and has already covered more than 60,000kilometres, emitting about 8 tons less CO2. The prize wasawarded to the 22 best projects funded by the "Life" programmefor "Environment and climate action" initiatives.. .