Thailand ramps up ethanol consumption

Between March and September 2011 Thailand's government will launch an E95 bus fleet trial to test the viability of replacing the current diesel- and LNG-fuelled buses with a 95% ethanol blend.

1.3 million litres a day of ethanol are consumed by the nation today, but the government is hoping to ramp this up to 9 million litres a day by 2022.

The buses used in the trial will come from heavy truck, bus and coach manufacturer, Sweden-based Scania.

The estimated 1,000 public buses on Thailand's roads today are thought to consume around 50 million litres of biodiesel a day. Should these be replaced with E95-powered ones, the nation's ethanol use will rise to 100,000 litres a day and decrease diesel use by 60,000 litres a day.

50% of the Bt 20 million (€470,405) project will be funded by the Energy Conservation Fund, while the remaining 50% will come from sponsorship by the private sector.