NeoBus

Industrial research on the process chain of fuel production and operation of public transport buses with bio-LNG and bio-CNG from waste and residual materials (NeoBus - negative emission public transport)

Topic

The reduction of CO2-emissions in the industrial as well as private sector is indispensable for reaching the climate goals set by the german government. Therefore, the EU has adopted the Clean Vehicle Directive (CVD), which is intended to lead to lower emissions, especially in cities. At present, however, bus operators consider neither electric drives nor hydrogen fuel cell hybrid technologies to be suitable for regional public transport from a technical and economic point of view. On the other hand, compressed biomethane (bio-CNG) or liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) can both meet required standards and be produced locally in sufficient quantities. 

Goals

Content of the project is the industrial research on the operation of buses with bio-LNG or bio-CNG produced on-farm with the overall goal of reducing CO2 emissions to less than 0 kg per kilometer. The entire process chain from on-farm production of bio-LNG and bio-CNG to tank logistics, adaptation of the buses' range and performance to the requirements of regional public transport, and the required tank and workshop technology will be evaluated comparatively. The drive concepts used are a bio-LNG hybrid concept (electric drive with recuperation and replenishment of the battery via gas engine) and a bus powered by bio-CNG with a gas Otto engine. In addition to the economic and technical aspects, the greenhouse gas balances of the two process chains bio-LNG and bio-CNG are to be investigated comparatively under practical conditions. Based on the ongoing joint project ProBioLNG, the state institute is validating the on-farm production of methane-based fuels in the NeoBus project. For this purpose, the technical planning and acquisiton of a mobile LNG filling station for operation at the "Unterer Lindenhof" is carried out. This will be followed by the construction, installation and commissioning of the bio-LNG filling station at the pilot plant. Finally, data will be collected during the entire operation period to obtain a qualitative and quantitative statement about the functionality of the LNG production. In the first project year, the components of the pilot plant for the production of bio-LNG were installed at the site. Furthermore, the work on the infrastructure was continued. The procurement of a mobile LNG filling station was disgarded due to supply bottlenecks and the bus will now be refuelled directly at the LNG station. Preliminary work has also been done on the technical validation of the facility based on RED2. A LinkedIn channel is being used to draw attention to the progress and benefits of the project.

Project tasks of the State Institute

In the first project year, the components of the pilot plant for the production of bio-LNG were installed at the site. Furthermore, the work on the infrastructure was continued. The procurement of a mobile LNG filling station was disgarded due to supply bottlenecks and the bus will now be refuelled directly at the LNG station. Preliminary work has also been done on the technical validation of the facility based on RED2. A LinkedIn channel is being used to draw attention to the progress and benefits of the project.

Project film

We held a "Biomethane Day" at the Lindenhöfe research site on 30 June 2023 with presentations on current research projects, the legal classification of the topic and experiences from the use of biomethane in public transport buses. An exhibition of biomethane vehicles used in heavy-duty transport (buses, tractors) and guided tours of our research facilities completed the day. A video summary of the event was produced, which we would like to publish on the Youtube channel of the University of Hohenheim. Biomethane is currently the most economical, ecologically sensible and the only solution that can be implemented in the short term to realise the traffic turnaround in heavy goods transport. However, this technical variant is often ignored in the political debate.

The project film can be viewed under the following link.