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   Natural gas  evaluated  
Natural gas propulsion for rail vehicles is discussed as a clean alternative to diesel propulsion and several prototypes and test series have been realized.
Technology field: Innovative traction concepts and energy sources
open main section General information
open main section General criteria
open main section Environmental criteria
close main section Economic criteria
  close sub-section Vehicle - fix costs: medium
    Investment is medium to high depending on whether conventional engines can be converted or whether dedicated engines have to be designed.
  Vehicle - running costs: significant reduction
   

Energy costs

Although energy efficiency of natural gas propulsion is poor in comparison to diesel propulsion, low gas prices may lead to reduced running costs. Different DB sources give savings in fuel costs between 15 and 30 %. This is partly due to favourable taxation and might change in the future.

Maintenance costs

Maintenance and inspection increased.
  Infrastructure - fix costs: high
    Investment in new supply structure necessary. If good national gas infrastructure is in place (e.g. in France), no costly installations are needed.
  Infrastructure - running costs: increased
    Parallel diesel and natural gas infrastructure will increase running costs.
  Scale effects: low
   

Low (no mass markets to be followed and no critical mass to be reached within railway markets)

Since natural gas does not take off as a diesel or gasoline alternative in road transportation, rail industry currently cannot follow mass market.
  Amortisation: > 5 years
    According to DB AG, with 30% reduction of running costs refit will pay off in 5-10 years.
open main section Application outside railway sector
open main section Overall rating
References / Links:  DB AG 1999;  Althammer, Hattensperger 1998;  Chabas et al. 2001;  Xin et al. 1997;  Schweiger et al. 1997;  ZEIT 2001;  DB AG 2001;  b-verband gas und wasser.de
Attachments:
Related projects:  Energy chains of alternative fuels;  Natural gas propelled railcar;  Shunting locomotive with LNG propulsion;  Railcar with CNG propulsion
Contact persons:
 date created: 2002-10-09
 
 
© UIC - International Union of Railways 2003
 
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