From Nottingham City Transport
The world’s largest fleet of Bio-Gas double deck buses is now fully operational after Nottingham City Transport’s 53rd Bio-Gas bus entered service this week, completing a £16.8m investment in greener transport for the city.
A £4.4m grant from the government’s OLEV Low Emission Bus Scheme, alongside a significant £12.4m investment by NCT has seen gas fuelling facilities installed at NCT’s main Parliament Street Bus Garage and the first 53 Bio-Gas double deck buses enter service on seven routes – 6, 10, 24, 25, 36, 44 and 45.
With all 53 Bio-Gas double deck buses from this initial order now in use, over 3,500 tonnes less CO2, 35 tonnes less NOX and ¾ tonne less particulate matter will be emitted each and every year from the NCT fleet, delivering significant improvements to air quality in Nottingham.
Bio-gas is produced naturally through anaerobic digestion, using food waste, farm waste and sewage. The methane emitted from the digestion process is captured, treated and turned into fuel.
With plans for further Bio-Gas double deck buses to be ordered (subject to funding) and the £3m funding announcement in February from DEFRAs Clean Vehicle Technology Fund to convert 185 existing buses to the latest Euro VI emission standards, Nottingham City Transport is on track to reduce emissions by 90% by 2020 and be compliant with the forthcoming Clean Air Zone in the City.
Mark Fowles, NCT Managing Director commented, “Our Bio-Gas double deck buses are the greenest buses on the road, with significantly lower emissions throughout the entire ‘well to wheel’ process of fuel generation, transportation and use. With Nottingham City Transport now operating 53 of these super environmentally friendly buses, we’re delivering cleaner air for Nottingham with the largest fleet of Bio-Gas double deck buses in the world.”
The engines and chassis of the sleek new Enviro400CBG City Bio-Gas buses have been developed by Swedish giant Scania and are bodied in Britain by the country’s largest bus manufacturer, Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL).
Mark Oliver, Scania UK Bus & Coach Fleet Sales General Manager said, “With emissions of carbon dioxide reduced by up to 84 percent, the introduction of this gas-powered double-deck bus fleet – the world’s largest fleet of its type – represents an important milestone for Nottingham City Transport and Scania as together we look to drive the shift towards a more sustainable transport future. We are delighted to be involved in this important environmental programme, and are sure many other public transport operators around the country will now look to follow Nottingham’s lead.”
Frank McGhee, ADL Regional Sales Manager, commented: “Bio-Gas is a key technology in our low emission bus portfolio, particularly suited to the conversion of large fleets of high capacity vehicles in demanding operations. We’re delighted to support NCT’s investment in greener transport, and to help improve passengers’ journeys with our state of the art buses.”
As well as being the greenest buses on the road, customers travelling on the new Bio-Gas buses enjoy a smoother, quieter ride in comfy high specification seats and are able to keep their devices fully charged with USB charging points on board and free 4G Wi-Fi.
The Enviro400 City features design cues based on the New Routemaster bus from London such as the glazed stairwell design. Even the New Routemaster designer Thomas Heatherwick welcomed the Enviro400 City design as a “back to front” compliment.
You can read more on the Alexander Dennis Enviro400CBG on the manufactures website. The Enviro400 City is also available with a standard Diesel engine and Diesel-electric hybrid system.
As more and more provincial (non-London) bus companies in Britain are purchasing the Enviro400 City buses, I believe the bus will become a British icon because of the design.
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