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GAS POWERED BUS PROJECT
Click here to contact CONPET’s team and to get more information about his project.

 
 

WHAT IS the Gas Powered Bus Project

The Gas Powered Bus Project is developed by Petrobras, CONPET and Cenpes in order to stimulate the use of natural gas in public urban and metropolitan transportation. The project solidifies a partnership with the Rio de Janeiro City’s Passenger Transportation Companies Union (Rio Ônibus), through the Rio de Janeiro State’s Passenger Transportation Companies Federation (Fetranspor).

 

Why use natural gas in public transportation?

The transportation industry accounts for approximately half of all of Brazil’s internal consumption of oil derivatives. The highway transportation segment is the main party responsible for this consumption: 96% of passengers and 62% of cargos in Brazil are transported by diesel vehicles.

Due to the emissions discharged from motor vehicles, mainly at large urban centers, the transportation segment has been suffering pressure by environmental authorities and from the society in general to make a better use of diesel oil and to try to find other fuel substitutes in the short term.

Thus, autogas (AG) is a type of fuel that offers the best large-scale use conditions, by guaranteeing supply and distribution, car manufacturing technologies and significant environmental benefits.
 

OBJECTIVE

The project’s main objective is to verify the operational performance of busses with Otto cycle natural gas powered engines in a regular bus line in the City of Rio de Janeiro, having as reference the average values of the diesel powered vehicles operating in similar conditions, checking for: efficiency, consumption, emissions, maintenance, qualification of the professionals and profitability of the operation.

Another objective is to evaluate the use of natural gas in urban transportation of passengers and to provide guidance on strategic decisions to be taken by transportation company owners for the use of this type of fuel in their vehicles.
 

SCOPE of the Project

  • Loaning by Petrobras of a Mercedes-Benz OH-1623 LG Bus with a Comil Svelto body, air-conditioning, M-366 LAG rear end motor with electronic management system and pneumatic suspension, which provides more stability for the vehicle and more comfort to passengers.
  • Indication, by Rio Ônibus, of a company to operate the bus in a regular line, in this case, Rubanil.
  • Installation by Petrobras of a natural gas fuel station at Rubanil’s garage, with a high output compressor and dispenser, enabling the vehicle to be refueled in an amount of time equivalent to that for a similar diesel vehicle (5 minutes).
 

Route Chosen

  • Company: Viação Rubanil Ltda.
  • Line: 350.
  • Trajectory: Irajá–Passeio (Via Largo do Bicão).
  • Modality: Express.
  • Characteristic: Mixed (long haul and stop and go).
  • Districts served: Irajá, Vicente de Carvalho, Penha, Ramos, Bonsucesso, Manguinhos, Benfica, Caju, Portuária, Centro (Candelária), Lapa and Cinelândia.
Characteristics Auto Gas Diesel
Model 1623 LG OH-1621 LE
Rear End Motor M-366 LAG OM-366 LA
Suspension Pneumatic Pneumatic
Power 231 hp 211 hp
Torque 73 mkgf 67mkgf
Cylinders 6 in line 6 in line
CC 5958 cm3 5958 cm3
Compression Rate 12:1 18:1
Autonomy 370 km 520 km
Tank Volume
240 m3
 210 liters
Number of Passengers
 85 a 115
 85 a 115
Emissions (Limit) Euro-II and Conama Fase-IV Euro-II and Conama Fase-IV
 

Project’s Results

  • Propagate the culture of use of natural gas in public urban and metropolitan transportation.
  • Gather comparative data between the operational performance of busses with Otto cycle natural gas powered engines and similar diesel powered vehicles, operating in the same conditions, and checking for: efficiency, consumption, emissions, maintenance, qualification of the professionals and profitability of the operation.
  • Demonstrate that the AUTO GAS technology is safe and reliable.
Click here to find out more about this project (in Portuguese).
 
CONPET is a Program of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, coordinated by representatives of the Federal Government, of the private initiative and is managed with technical, administrative and financial resources made available by Petrobras S.A.
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