SINGAPORE: Singapore has been chosen as the site to test out a green fuel.
The project, led by German engineering firm Bosch, hopes to change the negative image of diesel-powered vehicles and promote bio-diesel as an alternative environmentally friendly fuel.
The cars in the project are powered by Palm Oil Methyl Esters (POME B5). It is a fuel mixed with conventional diesel and 5% of palm-based bio-diesel.
A visual test was set up to prove that vehicles using POME B5 emit cleaner fumes compared to those using conventional fuel and technology.
Next, tests will also be conducted to show that bio-diesel vehicles with modern technology have 33% more fuel efficiency than conventional ones.
These bio-diesel vehicles will also be tested to see if they have lower emission rates, of up to 25%.
The bio-diesel project is into its third and final testing phase. Besides Bosch, those involved in the project are car makers Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz, Shell Eastern Petroleum and bio-fuel producer Nexsol.
The Singapore government agency partners in the project are the Economic Development Board and the National Environment Agency.
By the end of October 2009, those involved in the project hope to change the negative image of diesel-powered vehicles.
When one thinks of diesel, images of old goods vans or pickup trucks emitting smoke from their exhaust come to mind.
Managing director of Bosch in Southeast Asia, Cem Peksaglam, said: "The image of diesel vehicles, I would say not only in Singapore but also in Southeast Asia and many countries in Asia Pacific is negative due to the fact that most heavy duty vehicles are using very old diesel technology.
"This is one of the main obstacles. We also need education, we need to change the image of diesel-passenger cars here and in Southeast Asia."
Despite the advantages, industry players say it is impractical for bio-diesels to fully substitute conventional fuel. To do so, the entire infrastructure of the petroleum industry must be changed.
There is also the question of the supply of alternative fuel.
Kenny Koh, head of marketing for Peter Cremer(S)GmbH, said: "Today you can have people looking at other renewal sources, like using seaweed technology. They are trying to plant non-edible oils like jathropha and camelina.
"But, at the same time, it becomes an issue. If I have available, fertile land that can be used to plant something, why would I want to plant something that is non-edible?
"I just plant something that is edible, and can be used by both segments of the market. So I don't think that it is a very practical solution to say the whole world has to be on a B100 bio-diesel situation." - CNA/ir