By Lily B Libo-on www.khaleejtimes.com
Public buses and taxis in Dubai will soon be reducing fuel consumption, gas emissions and would be needing less servicing after May when they will all be fitted with supertech fuel saver which, the world’s transport industry calls, the ‘genius of the tank’.
The supertech fuel saver is a mechanical device fitted in the vehicle’s fuel tanks of Dubai Taxi units, and is currently being pilot tested. It will also be pilot tested in three Dubai buses by May this year in a continued effort of the Roads Transport Authority (RTA) to further reduce energy and fuel consumption of the emirate’s transport.
Amair Saleem, RTA Director for Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning, told Khaleej Times that the pilot testing will be done after a thorough review of the results of the pilot testing of the device on taxi units of Dubai Taxi. “We need to find out the contaminating environment footprint of this technology, details of measurement, including the lifespan of cars, customer’s satisfaction and others related to maintenance of the transport.”
Saleem, who also spoke on “Conservation of Energy through the RTA Environmental Initiatives” on the second day of the Dubai Global Energy Forum at the Dubai World Trade Centre, said the RTA is also studying other energy reduction initiatives such as the fitting of engines of Europe IV standards engine to its latest fleet of 800 buses, the electronically operated Metro, the launching of rowing abras and using of electric engines instead of diesel engines, and optimising AC systems in transports.”
He said that the RTA’s challenge of providing transport with conservation of energy grows with the population of Dubai. “Dubai’s population has increased from 65,000 people in 1965 to 1.28 million in 2010. The demand for transport is great, and needs to be provided with clean energy.”
The RTA director also said the authority is looking at the concept of using recyclable waste, which can be mixed with diesel five to ten per cent, and at broadening the application of solar energy on Metro and bus stops. “We started solar energy at the start of the Metro operation. Yet, we also have built cooling plants, and currently experimenting on the bio fuels.”
He said that enhancing fuel refinery (green fuels) is also being studied with improving the driving behaviour of drivers and improving their driving skills, which in the long run will be a bonus to the driver’s performance.
Other energy conservation initiatives include the completion of DEWA energy audits in seven RTA buildings, reviewing of energy audit reports and establishment of implementation plans, training awareness for RTA staff and the introduction of Dubai Award for Sustainable Transport (DAST), among others.
