Methanol engine

The first methanol bus in the world was placed in revenue service in Auckland, New Zealand in June 1981. It was a Mercedes O 305 city bus using the M 407 hGO methanol engine. This vehicle operated in revenue service for several years with mixed results. Fuel economy on an equivalent energy basis ranged from 6 to 17% mote than diesel fuel economy. Power and torque matched the diesel engine and drivers could not detect a difference. ReHabiUty and durabihty of components was a problem. Additional demonstrations took place in Berlin, Germany and in Pretoria, South Africa, both in 1982. 

In 1987 Seatde Metro purchased 10 new American built M.A.N. coaches powered by methanol. Six GM buses powered by DDC methanol engines entered revenue service at Triboro Coach in Jackson Heights, New York, 2 GM buses in Medicine Hat Transit in Medicine Hat, Manitoba, and 2 Flyer coaches in Winnipeg Transit, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. An additional 45 DDC powered methanol buses were introduced in California as indicated by Table 4. Figure 11 shows the distance accumulation of alternate-fueled buses in the four California transit properties. 

U. Hilger, G. Jain, E. Scheid, and P. Pischinger, "Development of a Direct Injected Neat Methanol Engine for Passenger Car AppHcations," SAP Paper 901521, SAE Euture Transportation Technology Conf. and Expo. (San Diego, Calif., Aug. 13—16,1990). 

A. Nietz and P. Chmela, "Results of Purther Development in the M.A.N. Methanol Engine," 6th Int. Symp. on Alcohol Euels Technology (Ottawa,... 

M. D. Jackson, S. Uimasch, and D. D. Lowell, "Heavy-Duty Methanol Engines Wear and Emissions," 8th Int. Sjmp. onylkoholFuels (Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 13-16,1988). 

R. Baranescu and co-workers, "Prototype Development of a Methanol Engine for Heavy-Duty AppHcation-Performance and Emissions," Sy4E Paper 891655, SyPE Future Transportation Technology Conf. (Aug. 7—20,1989), Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, Pa. 

M. D. Jackson, C. Sullivan, and P. Wuebben, "California s Demonstration of Heavy-Duty Methanol Engines ia Tmcking AppHcations," 9th Int. 

Methanol engine gets nod from U.S. and California EPA, Chem. Marketing Reporter, August 72 7, 11 (1991). 

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