On April 5, 2007, the Tottori University of Environmental Studies (TUES) started operation of a school bus powered by a blend of light oil and biodiesel fuel refined from used cooking oil provided by local households and businesses. The bus travels six times a day between Tottori station and the university campus for the convenience of commuting university students, teachers and staff, and contributes to a reduction in CO2 emissions.

The school bus project was adopted and operated by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as a Demonstrative Model Evaluation Project for Consumer Sector Global Warming Prevention Measures in fiscal 2006. The project explored the possibility of actual operation by, for example, distributing community currency for local use to those who provided waste cooking oil. Project operation was transferred to the university in April 2007, and changes were made to the bus route and method of paying the bus fare. The university plans to increase the mixing rate of BDF from 20 percent to 50 percent in future to contribute to further reductions in CO2 emissions.

On the first service day when freshmen gathered at the campus, the bus was full of students. The service helps students to commute to the university, which is located in the suburbs of the Tottori City. Waste cooking oil is collected in boxes at community centers from local residents and restaurants to be refined into biodiesel.


- Biodiesel School Bus Launches Operation at University in Japan (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/db/1707-e

Posted: 2007/06/30 12:13:35 PM
Japanese version

TAG Energy , Government , Transportation , University/Research institute