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A3-PROJECTS
A3 | A3 – Austrian Advanced Automotive Technology | A3 – 1 st Call (2002)
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY URBAN BUS AND GOODS TRAFFIC SYSTEMS
Clean fuels and zero emissions in central urban areas
Project management:
Vienna University of Technology – Institute for
Internal Combustion Engines and Automotive
Engineering
Project partners:
Wiener Linien GmbH & Co KG, ÖAMTC
Academy – scientific association for mobility
and environmental research
42 Austrian Technological Expertise in Transport
The primary goal of this one-year project is to find alternative and clean solutions for
urban bus and goods traffic that can be applied in the short and medium term. Reducing
emissions by using alternative fuels and propulsion technologies is of primary interest.
The principal purpose of the project was to devise a concept for improving air quality in
densely-populated outlying urban areas, as well as presenting different propulsion
principles using alternative fuels and soft hybrid drives.
To determine the influence of bus and goods traffic on overall pollution levels, a series
of measurements were conducted in May 2003 on a radial highway (Hietzinger Kai) in
Vienna. With the help of these measurements, it could be demonstrated that nitrogen
oxide (NO X) emissions from heavy traffic continue to be underestimated in the technical
literature.
Alternative technical solutions for pollution-free propulsion concepts are proposed and
discussed. Natural gas, biodiesel and alcohol fuels, as well as hybrid concepts, are
examined using ecological and economic criteria. Gas-powered concepts (natural gas
and liquid petroleum gas) in particular are sensible alternatives to conventionallyoperated
vehicles with diesel engines in the short and medium term. Given adequate
geographical coverage of hydrogen refuelling stations, fuel cell technology will be a
good long-term alternative because running vehicles on this technology does not cause
emissions of pollutants. This is particularly attractive for inner-urban transportation.
Conversion strategies, including a market analysis, are presented for municipal
authorities and fleet operators. These conversion strategies demonstrate methods to
implement the proposed solutions. These strategies are intended to assist decisionmakers
active in the bus and goods transportation sector.
Information about the project, the project partners and links to further information can
be found at the internet homepage „www.sauberer-stadtverkehr.info“.