WEBINAR

Cities’ experience with biofuels

14/01/2013 14.00-15.30
Gerhard Ablasser, City of Graz
Slide title

Background & Objectives

City of Graz – fact

• 265.000 inhabitants
• 121.000 employees
• 70.000 daily commuters
• 4 universities with 50.000 students
• area of 127 km²
• UNESCO World Heritage since 1999
• Cultural Capital City of Europe in 2003
• OSMOSE Award 2006
• CIVITAS City of the year 2008

CIVITAS Webinar 00/00/2013

Slide title

„From the frying-pan into the tank“

Slide title

Ökodrive-Ecodrive - the project

1990 Start collection of used cooking oil from

private households

1994 Starting of pilot project - Research work on Biodiesel from

used cooking oil
operation of 2 buses of the public transport service (GVB)

1999 Start collection of used cooking oil from restaurants

2003 EU Project CIVITAS / trendsetter

operation of additional 54 buses with biodiesel
2005 100 % biodiesel public transport fleet (135 buses)
2005 EU Project KAPA / GS equipment with particle catalytic converters
Slide title

Collection of used cooking oil

private households
more than 250 restaurants, hotels, snackbars...
Öko-Service / Eco-Service
Slide title

Good partnership:

Company SEEG-
company converting used cooking oil to biodiesel
Slide title

Company BDI / with Technical University /

Chemical Institute / Transport Company (GVB)
Slide title

Good partnership:

Graz Karl Franzens University

Institute for Organic Chemistry
Technical University Graz:
Institute for Internal Combustion
Engines and Thermodynamics
Slide title

Good partnership:

Public Transport Company Graz (GVB)

Slide title
 Technical requirements & Results
Slide title

•check of all assemblies

supplied with biodiesel
(heaters)
• exchange of fuel hoses
• certification from the engine
manufacturer
• consent from the supplier
of the injection pump
• motor oil change every 30.000 km,
but no special oil was needed
• no greater wear of the engine
• 5 – 8 % higher consumption
• combination with fossil diesel
in winter
• biodiesel is cheaper
( depents on tax
regulations )
• scientific examination
 Motives for GVB - public transport operator
Slide title

• price of biodiesel fuel is lower - no mineral tax

• but: 5 - 8% higher consumption of biodiesel
• pioneer for environment protection
• ecological aspect
• interest in technical progress for better air quality
• image improvement of Public Transport
Slide title

Lessons learned I

• you need a very motivated team in all sectors of the partnership that
is responsible for the running fleet
• high international interest about the experience of Graz but less
followers in Austria
• using Biodiesel as a fuel made from waste material was the right step
but only a step in the right direction
• The experience of Graz opened the way for blending biodiesel in a
large scale
Slide title

Lessons learned II

• no future for 100% biodiesel with new generations of engines,

EURO VI but a way to do something positive with all older buses
immediately
• problems with particulate catalytic converters;
livetime of 2 – 3 years is not acceptable
• Problems with heating system can be solved with a dual tank system
• to not discuss – you must start to do it
Slide title

The future in Graz

• Pilot with 4 CNG Mercedes since March 09
• Hybrid bus test since spring 09
• Electric bus test since February 2013
• preparation of the future way – at the moment it seams to be
CNG with a high focus on local produced biogas
• Using the experience of European projects and learning from
European partners to find the right solution
• focus on other private and public fleets like taxies, public
services, …
Slide title

Thank you for your attention

DI Gerhard Ablasser
City of Graz

The Executive Office for Urban Planning,

Development and Constuction,
European Programmes and International Cooperation Unit

Europaplatz 20 / A 8011 Graz / Austria

T +43 316 872 3580
F +43 316 872 3589
mail: gerhard.ablasser@stadt.graz.at
Information : www.graz.at