Out of the lab, onto the road

Publication date: 22 October 2007

Auto clubs in Austria and Germany are to put a group of 'eco-vehicles' through their paces to see how effective they are in everyday traffic. The Austrian auto club ÖAMTC, together with its German affiliated club ADAC, is to send six vehicles off on a six month endurance test designed to show whether new technologies are able to deliver the sort of environmental promises they make in theory.

ÖAMTC Chief Engineer Max Lang explains: "Natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ethanol, full hybrid, mild hybrid – there are already plenty of alternatives to mineral oil-based fuels, alternatives which burn more cleanly or are produced from renewable raw materials. But they still have to prove how effective they actually are in everyday traffic."

The test will focus on vehicles with natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and ethanol as alternative fuels; on full hybrids and mild hybrids as new propulsion concepts; and on a diesel vehicle as a reference model.

Testing is to be carried out under normal everyday road conditions. Lang says: "What should be interesting is to see whether the still rather sparse network of natural gas service stations is sufficiently dense and whether the unfamiliar tankfilling process is going to cause problems. Filling up with LPG might also be a challenge. There are still currently very few such service stations in Austria." The ethanol infrastructure is also in its infancy, even though 40 such service stations are to due to open throughout Austria as of 1 October 2007.

The question of costs will also play a part. Lang firmly believes that the market will have the final word. "After all, it's a price issue as to whether or not an alternative concept manages to establish itself in the long run," he says.

The initiative is just the latest example of the ÖAMTC's ongoing concern over environmental issues. Last year Postal Bus drivers underwent training aimed at economical driving at the ÖAMTC's Driving Safety Centres. "After an Economy Training Course each participant is able to save 5.6 per cent fuel, sustainably, by adopting the right driving approach in everyday traffic," explains Gerhard Blümel, Head of HGV/ Bus Driving Safety at the ÖAMTC.

Extrapolated to Austria's ÖBB Postal Bus fleet as a whole, which covers 120 million km a year, this translates into total savings of 1.9 million litres of fuel, which means fuel cost savings of €1.5 m. This is enough for one postal bus to travel 6.6 million km, or 18 times the distance between the earth and the moon.

The drivers are trained as part of the klima: aktiv mobil programme introduced by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The initiative is aiming to bring about a trend reversal in the traffic sector by promoting sustainable and environment-friendly mobility.

In recognition of the driving courses, the club has recently presented awards to the ÖBB Postal Bus organisation, together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, and the Austrian Energy Agency.

Blümel says that the training has proved helpful in several areas. "The benefits of the right driving techniques are obvious. Firstly you save fuel and don't cause as much pollution to the environment; and secondly, you also improve the travel comfort and safety of passengers on board the bus."

The training also proved that driving economically did not mean any loss of time.

During their "economy drive" participants achieved average time savings of 5.28 per cent. A further 450 ÖBB postal bus drivers are to take part in ÖAMTC Economy Training courses in 2007. At this point all 2,800 drivers of the ÖBB Postal Bus service will have attended the specialist training course.

According to Blümel the programme has had a considerable impact. "By applying the fuel-saving tips, Postal Bus drivers are able to contribute towards preventing the annual output of some 5,000 tonnes of the greenhouse gas CO2. Traffic plays a key role in matters of energy efficiency and climate protection.

Blümel says: "The ÖAMTC believes it is very important to pay tribute to the vision shown by all three co-operation partners. With the experience gained from their Economy Training, Postal Bus drivers now drive every day with an attitude that's environmentally aware, stress-free, low on wear and tear, and as a result, more economical."

The six vehicles undergoing the endurance test are:
• VW Touran Eco Fuel (natural gas/CNG )
• Subaru Outback 2.5i ecomatic (liquefied petroleum gas/LPG )
• Ford Focus FFV Flexifuel (ethanol)
• Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid (full hybrid)
• Honda Civic 1.3i-DS i Hybrid (mild hybrid)
• Skoda Octavia RS TDI (diesel)