Title: PROVING GROUND COMPARISON OF M.A.N. METHANOL AND DIESEL TRANSIT BUSES. INTERIM REPORT
Abstract: The UMTA Methanol Bus Demonstration Program was established to develop information concerning safety, cost of ownership, maintainability, public health, and reliability issues arising from the operation of methanol fueled transit buses. This is the first of a series of proving ground comparisons of methanol demonstration and diesel control transit buses. The tests included cold and warm weather tests of three methanol-fueled and three diesel-fueled M.A.N. transit buses taken from revenue service at Seattle Metro, Washington. The purpose of the tests was to compare three methanol test buses from the demonstration fleet and three diesel control buses under carefully controlled proving ground conditions. Buses were tested for driveability, acceleration and gradeability, and noise at the PACCAR Technical Center (70 miles north of Seattle). The tests compared mature diesel engine technology with recently developed methanol engine technology and reflect the current state of development of one manufacturer's methanol fueled bus. This report provides overall conclusions of the January (cold weather) and August (warm weather) nonrevenue comparisons of the buses. It is recommended that the methanol demonstration proving ground comparisons of methanol and diesel buses be continued, tests be performed with buses by other manufacturers, and that future comparative testing be limited to buses and engines available to bus purchasers on a current basis.
Publication Year: 1988
Publication Date: 1988-10-01
Language: en
Type: article
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