World's First 2nd-Gen Biodiesel City Bus to Run in Tokyo

On September 21, 2007, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Nippon Oil (ENEOS), Toyota Motors, and Hino Motors announced that they achieved the commercialization of bio hydrofined diesel (BHD) in their joint project and will begin trial operation of city buses that run on a BHD-diesel blend in Tokyo. BHD, known as a second-generation biodiesel, is produced by hydrogenating vegetable oil feedstock and has similar properties to those of conventional petroleum diesel. Tokyo will be the world's first city to operate its city bus fleet, comprising the latest diesel-hybrid vehicles, on BHD.

An outstanding combination of Japan's fuel and auto technologies made it possible for the field-test to cut CO2 emissions by about 25 percent when compared to conventional bus operation. The BHD buses will be debuted on October 10, 2007, and will run until the end of March 2008. The specially painted environmentally friendly buses will be also used as a tool to raise public awareness of the needs for CO2 reduction and the wider use of biofuels. This campaign includes entry of the vehicle at the Tokyo Motor Show in October, 2007.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced biodiesel fuel in its city buses in an effort to curb CO2 emissions, taking the initiative to fight global warming under its 10-year Project for Carbon Reduction in Tokyo.

http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/ENGLISH/index.htm

Posted: 2008/01/10 10:01:50 AM
Japanese version