Methodology for assessing technical and economic efficiency of converting automotive equipment to run on natural gas

   The article is devoted to the development of a methodology for supporting decision-making on the feasibility of converting automotive equipment to run on compressed or liquefied natural gas.

   The main technical, economic and environmental effects achieved when converting automotive equipment to run on natural gas are shown. The current situation in the country with gas filling stations and the resulting restrictions on the use of natural gas as a motor fuel are described. Cases are listed that exclude the possibility of converting automotive equipment to natural gas. It has been determined that the factors that must be taken into account when calculating the technical and economic efficiency of converting automotive equipment to run on natural gas should include the characteristics of automotive equipment, standard and actual fuel consumption, the cost of conversion to run on natural gas, the cost of motor fuel in the region of operation , costs associated with the maintenance and repair of equipment after switching to gas engine fuel, as well as retraining of service personnel, costs associated with re-mileage due to the remote location of automobile gas filling compressor stations or cryo-gas stations, the availability of federal and regional subsidies, preferential rates transport tax and other additional measures to stimulate the development of the gas motor fuel market. Examples of calculations using the presented methodology for the fleet of automotive and tractor equipment Russian Railways are given. An assessment of the influence of such factors as annual mileage, the ratio of the cost of motor fuels and an increase in the distance to gas stations on the payback period of the project of converting automotive equipment to run on natural gas is presented.

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