Clean public transport strategies

As part of its efforts to encourage a shift towards clean public transport fleets, the city of Ghent is substituting diesel with B30 and optimising the energy consumption of trams.

Implementing sustainable mobility

The PT company De Lijn wanted to increase the cleanliness of the present trams by reducing electricity consumption on trams after conducting an energy audit on a “measuring” tram. The results of this enery audit lead to a proposal of a consistent package of new actions as reducing cold air import, defining variable set point for inside temperature, defining variable intake of fresh air, and reducing ventilation in function of outside temperature and when doors are open, towards less energy consumption on trams. This proposal is implemented in the existing trams and introduced in new tendering procedures.

Deviations from the original plan were:

Introducing B30 in public transport buses after a consensus on all levels (political, central services of De Lijn) and a positive evaluation of the pilot project with a selected number of B30-buses. The implementation of bio diesel failed as no warranties are given by the bus manufactures. To remove this barrier in the future, the existing calls for tender are extended with a passage on the B30-proofness of new buses. The second reason for failure of implementation of bio diesel is that according to De Lijn, no guarantee can be given that the production of B30 will not detriment of the human food chain. This part of the measure is stopped
Retrofitting old buses: as all buses already received closed soot-filters, financed by Flemish Government, before the CIVITAS project was started, this part is removed from the description of work.
Although negotiations about the purchase of a Hydrogen bus were far progressed, the cabinet of the Minister in charge for De Lijn decided at end of December 2009 NOT to buy such a hydrogen bus as the core-business of the Public Transport Company is not to do research and development of new technologies.

How did the measure progress?

A CIVITAS branded tram is operating in the Ghent city centre and is called the meter tram. This tram is meticulously measuring the energy used when driving. The main energy consumers such as heaters and pneumatic air suspension will then be mapped out, the temperature will be recorded, along with other monitoring measures. On the basis of this data, De Lijn will adapt all their trams in order to reduce energy consumption and costs to an absolute minimum.

What were the outcomes of the measure?

Gent expects the measure will:

Reduce emissions, as De Lijn estimates a 5 to 10% decrease in the electricity consumption of its 40 low-floor trams;
Increase operator confidence in clean-fuelled vehicles.

Introducing B30 in public transport buses failed, as no warranties are given by the bus manufactures. To remove this barrier in the future, the existing calls for tender are extended with a passage on the B30-proofness of new buses. The second reason for failure of implementation of bio diesel is that according to De Lijn, no guarantee can be given that the production of B30 will not detriment of the human food chain.

Reducing energy consumption on trams after conducting an energy audit on a tram. The results of the enery audit lead to a proposal of a consistent package of new actions as reducing cold air import, defining variable set point for inside temperature, defining variable intake of fresh air, and reducing ventilation in function of outside temperature and when doors are open, towards less energy consumption on trams. This proposal is introduced in new tendering procedures

Outcomes:

New heating and ventilation (HV) strategy leads to a significant reduction of energy. Due to the new heating and ventilation (HV) strategy as reducing cold air import, defining variable set point for inside temperature, defining variable intake of fresh air, and reducing ventilation in function of outside temperature and when doors are open, on 41 ‘Hermelijn’ trams in Ghent, De Lijn Ghent saves 850 MWh electricity per year. This leads to savings of 101.992 euro per year or 234 tonne of CO2 per year. Measuring the impact of the new heating and ventilation (HV) strategy on energy use in same conditions (same outside temperature, number of passengers, days in week,…), leads to a reduction of 31% energy use.
The CBA is very positive. Costs already gained back in 2014. It is worthful to implement the new heating and ventilation (HV) strategy in the tramfleet of De Lijn as already in 2014 the costs of the energy audit and the investment costs are gained back. Over a period of 24 years and after discount analysis, the benefit will be approximately 1,34 million €.