Fuel research funded by DOT
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• The Department of Transport is instigating a two-year, £650,000 study of a dozen Ford Transits using a variety of alternative and conventional fuels.
Run by commercial division of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (AEA Technology) the study will compare the benefits of using LPG, CNG, biodiesel and traction batteries with petrol and diesel. Most of the Transits are low-mileage examples, run by operators such as Royal Mail and British Gas.
In-service fuel consumption, costs and general operating behaviour will be monitored and emissions tests will be carried out at AEA's laboratory in Harwell, Oxfordshire, Up to 42 buses run by fleets including Oxford Bus Company and Southampton City Bus are also taking port in the exercise.
Also for the Department of Transport, AEA is conducting separate tests to establish procedures for particulate sizing, and studying the problem of oil burning in petrol engines.