Introduction to EcoTransit

Organic Power put together the design concept for a dedicated vehicle fuelled by renewable natural gas, as advertising for its technology. DaimlerChrysler produced 50 of these seven seater people carrier EcoVito vehicles, the majority of which were sold to Eco-Transit SBN BHD in Malaysia. In order to provide additional funding and so as not to detract from the core business of Organic Power, EcoTransit Ltd was formed and separately funded. The first two Mercedes EcoVito vehicles off the production line were bought by EcoTransit Ltd which continues to promote Organic Power’s technology and to market and develop the gas vehicle opportunities which the Maltin® System provides.

Biomethane as a Vehicle Fuel

Biomethane is the world’s most environmentally friendly vehicle fuel.

The route to having vehicles being powered by biomethane is to begin by having them fuelled by natural gas and then to replace this fossil fuel natural gas with biomethane when the use of Natural Gas Vehicles has become established.

This is what has happened, or is happening, in other countries around the world.

There are over 8.5 million gas vehicles on the road, growing by over 20% per year.

There are over 1 million gas vehicles in:

  • Pakistan (where 60% of the vehicles run on gas)
  • Argentina
  • Brazil

There are over 40,000 gas vehicles in:

  • USA
  • China

Number of Gas Vehicles

Number of gas vehicles

Sadly, the UK does not even feature in this list.

Germany is committed to building over 1,000 gas refuelling stations and will substitute 10% of all the fossil fuel natural gas with biomethane from wastes by 2010.

The majority of the gas vehicles in Sweden already operate on biomethane from wastes.

Sweden intends to be completely free of fossil fuels by 2012.

Development of market for methane as a vehicle fuel in Sweden - vehicles

Gas powered vehicles are now available from ALL the major vehicle manufacturers:

Opel Combo 1.6 CNG
Opel Combo 1.6CNG
Volvo V70 Bifuel
Volvo V70 Bifuel
Mercedes E200 NGT
Mercedes E200 NGT
Fiat Multipla Natural Power
Fiat Multipla Natural Power
VW Touran 2.0 EcoFuel
VW Touran 2.0 EcoFuel
VW Caddy 2.0 Ecofuel
VW Caddy 2.0 Ecofuel
Ford Focus C-Max CNG
Ford Focus C-Max CNG
Citroen Berlingo GNV
Citroen Berlingo GNV
Fiat Ducato Natural Power
Fiat Ducato Natural Power
IVECO Turbo Daily CNG
IVECO Turbo Daily CNG
Mercedes Benz Econic
Mercedes Benz Econic
MAN NL313 CNG
MAN NL313 CNG
Volvo 7700
Volvo 7700

Other countries are encouraging the use of natural gas and biomethane as vehicle fuels:

  • to deal with their air pollution generally
  • to improve urban air quality particularly
  • to deal with their organic wastes sustainably
  • to reduce vehicle traffic noise
  • to provide security of supply