LThe pandemic has marked a before and after in the way we want our cities to evolve. The goal is to ensure that the quality of life in cities does not decrease due to factors such as traffic, noise or pollution, which is why it is essential to decarbonise the heaviest vehicles, especially public transport or waste collection trucks, as they are responsible for a large part of the polluting emissions.
One of the existing options is the re-motorisation of diesel engines that are between 3 and 10 years old with others powered by autogas or biopropane, the latter being 100% renewable. Thanks to a ‘made in Spain’ project such as BeGas, it is possible to achieve this and position sustainable national cities as benchmarks at a European level.
Málaga, San Sebastián and Bilbao are good examples that show a clear growth towards models focused on smart cities. A broad term that, in addition to introducing initiatives linked to digitalisation, connectivity and ICT, also aims to promote values such as sustainability and environmental care.
This is precisely what BeGas, a Spanish company based in Bizkaia and a pioneer in the development of ecological engines, allows, which promote the use and recycling of fleets at a lower cost, thus contributing to the ecological transition, a key aspect for smart cities.
And for the purchase price of a new bus by a local entity, up to five vehicles can be re-motorised, avoiding the generation of more than 80,000 kg of waste. BeGas engines not only obtain the Eco-DGT label after re-motorisation, but also have the latest technology and innovation in the sector. This commitment to the most cutting-edge solutions has been possible thanks to the collaboration of institutions such as the Thermal Engine Centre of the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the CDTI, with co-financing from the FEDER Funds.
Innovation at the service of efficiency and emission reduction
These types of engines are more efficient, but they also comply with the latest European emissions regulations and manage to reduce emissions standards by up to 90% in terms of polluting gases such as NOx or suspended particles. They also reduce vehicle noise levels by 50% compared to diesel engines. The result is therefore very favourable figures for improving the air quality of smart cities and promoting sustainable mobility.
In addition to the savings and environmental impact, local entities that use this service will not have to make major changes to their facilities for fuel supply, since the same company facilitates the management of the supply point for both fuels. An addition that guarantees an efficient service from the manufacturing process to the start-up of the vehicle.
Unique engines manufactured in Spain
The company, based in Bizkaia, locates the production cell for BeGas AVG engines at the Automotive Intelligence Center (AIC) in Boroa and integrates them into heavy vehicles at the facilities located in San Agustín de Guadalix (Madrid). To complete the triangle, the manufacturer also has a collaboration agreement with the Thermal Engine Center of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. With whom they are already working, together with a consortium of companies, on a small-sized engine that will cover the last mile market.
