Modified buses running on CNG to help clean up Jakarta skies

By John Bell

Air pollution in Jakarta will be slightly reduced by a fleet of Australian-modified buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG).

The Indonesian government has just bought 100 buses which use a fueling system developed by West Australian company Transcom. The system replaces the diesel induction system and converts a formerly diesel compression ignition engine to run on CNG.

The CNG buses are expected to produce only half the harmful emissions of traditional diesel-powered buses.

Hungarian bus manufacturer Ikarus won the tender against stiff international competition, using Hungarian RABA engines manufactured under license from MAN.

These buses meet the yet to be introduced, year 2000, Euro 3 ultra-low emissions standard and only emit 0.6 grams per kilowatt hour of nonmethane hydrocarbons, 2.5g/kWhr of carbon monoxide and 5g/kWhr of nitrous oxides.

In comparison, the Australian government only requires buses to meet the lesser Euro 2 standard of 1.1g/kWhr of nonmethane hydrocarbons, 4g/kWhr of carbon monoxide and 7g/kWhr of nitrous oxides.

The bolt-on, gas modification for engines was designed and manufactured by Transcom.

The managing director of Transcom's engine division, Tony Middleton, said Transcom would earn A$800,000 for its conversion work on the 100 buses.

"The Indonesian Public Transport Corporation, PPD, has indicated that a repeat order for a further 150 Ikarus CNG buses will be made later this year," Middleton said.

"Gas-powered RABA engines produce more power and significantly eliminate most of the traditional diesel engine noise.

"In addition, gas-powered engines are a relatively low cost, bolt-on modification which also offer a dramatic cost saving in fuel."

A similar Australian CNG-powered city bus would save about $8,000 a year on fuel costs over 60,000 km, he said.

The patented Transcom Natural Gas Vehicle System is an electronic fuel-injection system and engine control system which allows heavy duty engines to run on CNG.

Transcom has invested $30 million developing this technology.

The company says the system is state-of-the-art and that demand for this type of emission control system will grow as countries increase controls over vehicle emissions.

The company says several European cities are giving serious consideration to CNG-powered buses as a means to cut urban pollution.

Transcom is also working with Renault and the West Australian Department of Transport to convert another 100 buses to CNG.