| Objectives / Innovative Aspects |
The main goals of the measure concern the increasing the ratio of clean buses in Lille by:
- introducing 128 new biogas buses in public transport fleet
- bringing cost per km of a gas bus equivalent to a diesel bus
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| The Measure |
In 1990 Lille Metropolis decided to start an urban bus service, fuelled by natural and/or purified biogas, produced from the fermentation of sludge from a local sewage treatment plant. After an experimental project and a test period, it was decided to introduce a new fleet of such vehicles into full service. The final objective is to convert the entire fleet (400 buses) into buses running on this type of fuel.
By the end of year 2005, Lille Metropole will have:
- purchased 128 gas/biogas buses. By Mid-2005, the total fleet should include 170 gas/biogas buses (50% of the bus fleet);
- purchased a new CNF and biogas compression station for the buses;
- built a new bus depots and modified certain lines (detectors, ventilation system, lighting), in order to guarantee bus operation and maintenance safety.
Infrastructure investments will be partly financed by the Trendsetter Budget (extra-cost of the busses, the depots and the line modifications due to the use of biogas).
Furthermore, a technical study will evaluate the technical and environmental aspects of the experience of a biogas busses fleet.
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| Related Measures |
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show related measures
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| Implementation Status |
86 new gas buses have been put in service in Lille metropolis. The total fleet of gas buses, at this date is 127 gas buses on a total fleet of 311 vehicles. 40 new buses (EURO 5 standards) have been order and delivered.
A new bus depot was constructed, and it is designed to park and maintain 150 gas buses (100 standards, 50 articulated). This new depot is built in front of the next organic recovery context, which will produce mass quantity of biogas.
In the hart of this depot is built one of the biggest compression units in Europe. This compression unit will be the first one in Europe that will compress natural gas and biogas.
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| (Expected) Results |
The experience of Lille in the operation of a biogas bus fleet is certainly pioneering this area and setting the trends for future clean and sustainable public transport.
It shows that, with the adequate political engagement, a substantial improvement in the environmental impact of the public transport operation can be made.
This requires however a complete strategy including the infrastructure.
It also shows that an evaluation, including of the economic aspects, which is only based on a sub-critical sample of the bus fleet cannot be sufficient to approach the problem of converting a complete regional fleet. Lille metropolis demonstrated the technical, environmental and economical feasibility of such conversion in a large scale.
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| Downloads |
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Evaluation Report |
| Contact |
Yves Baesen |
Download PDF Version:
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Last update: 06-11-2006
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