Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First
routeONE magazine|8 March 2017 - Issue 680

Interest in biogas-fuelled buses has grown recently thanks to Scania and ADL’s partnership to develop the Enviro400 CBG. The first are with Reading Buses and we find out how they perform.

Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First

The jury remains out on where the bus industry goes post-diesel, but Reading Buses’ mind was made up a long time ago. Gas is the answer as far as it is concerned, and earlier this year it became the world’s first operator to place a Euro 6 biogas-fuelled double decker into service.

Reading now has five of these Scania N 280 UDs with Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro400 CBG bodywork on the road, and Chief Engineer John Bickerton says that it would surprise nobody at the operator if the type wins this year’s tendering round for new double-deckers.

“The biogas double-deckers have performed brilliantly so far and drivers love them, although we currently have three diesel Scania Enviro equivalents on loan and they are doing very well too.

“From the cab there is little difference between diesel and biogas examples, although in the saloon the quieter gas engine means that gearbox noise is audible; in a diesel, it is not.”

Reading Buses already has a number of biogas-fuelled single-deck Scania Enviro buses, and John says that their fuel consumption is broadly comparable with the double-deckers’, at around 2km per kilogramme of gas. Gearbox optimisation work is still to be done on the double deckers, which should improve returns slightly. Scania says that it is committed to biogas buses as a major component of its range at Euro 6, and it recently disclosed that requests for quotes for gas now account for 50% of operator interest.

Bu hikaye routeONE magazine dergisinin 8 March 2017 - Issue 680 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye routeONE magazine dergisinin 8 March 2017 - Issue 680 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

ROUTEONE MAGAZINE DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Vehicle Parts and Accessories
routeONE magazine

Vehicle Parts and Accessories

Replacement parts will always be necessary, even for the most well maintained fleet.Consider investing in aftermarket accessories to reap the long-term benefits.

time-read
5 dak  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680
Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First
routeONE magazine

Decker Is Cooking on Biogas as a First

Interest in biogas-fuelled buses has grown recently thanks to Scania and ADL’s partnership to develop the Enviro400 CBG. The first are with Reading Buses and we find out how they perform.

time-read
7 dak  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680
Elite: One Coach That Satisfies Two Tasks
routeONE magazine

Elite: One Coach That Satisfies Two Tasks

Tim Deakin drives the first restyled Plaxton’s Elite of which Acklams Coaches took the first one to enter service.

time-read
7 dak  |
15 March 2017 - Issue 681
Real Life on Real City Buses
routeONE magazine

Real Life on Real City Buses

What’s it really like for everyday wheelchair users on buses? We make an undercover visit to Norwich to find out

time-read
5 dak  |
1 March 2017 - Issue 679
Get Your Ship in Shape
routeONE magazine

Get Your Ship in Shape

A change to the Ogden tables means that insurance premiums are rising by at least 10-15%. What can you do to protect yourself?

time-read
5 dak  |
15 March 2017 - Issue 681
Volvo Still Leader of the Pack
routeONE magazine

Volvo Still Leader of the Pack

Many small operators know the feeling of excitement that comes with the arrival of a new coach. With the 17-plate now here, one of the first to enter service is continuing a Staffordshire firm’s relationship with Volvo, its favoured supplier

time-read
4 dak  |
1 March 2017 - Issue 679
Now It's Your Turn
routeONE magazine

Now It's Your Turn

After almost four decades husband and wife team Alan and Celia Phillips are stepping aside to make room for the second generation.

time-read
4 dak  |
8 March 2017 - Issue 680