Peace laureates to ride climate-neutral Scania buses
Scania is making an ethanol-powered bus available for transport services in conjunction with the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo on 10 December. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former US Vice President Al Gore will thus have the opportunity to experience what will become a reality next year in the Norwegian capital, when Scania's third-generation ethanol buses go into scheduled service. Using ethanol as a fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent compared to a city bus running on diesel.
The public transport company AS Oslo Sporveier has chosen Scania as a supplier as it begins the transition to biofuel-powered city buses. During the spring of 2008, 20 third-generation Scania ethanol buses will go into service. According to Oslo Sporveier’s calculations, these 20 ethanol buses will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 600 tonnes per year.
“Ethanol is by far the most cost-effective biofuel in the market today, taking into account factors like availability, infrastructure and access to proven technology. Even today, it can contribute to a sustainable public transport system. New technologies such as hybrids are around the corner and fuel cells could become viable in ten years’ time, but there is no reason to wait,” says Melker Jernberg, head of Scania Buses and Coaches.
By “sustainable”, Scania means both from an environmental and economic perspective. Further information is available on the website www.scania.com/biofuels
The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI, www.clintonfoundation.org) regards Scania’s ethanol-powered buses as one of the best available solutions for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from urban traffic.
The net effect of ethanol depends on how the fuel is produced. Ethanol made from sugar cane can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 percent compared to a similar engine operating on fossil fuel.
Scania recently introduced its third generation of ethanol engines, which have the same high efficiency as an ordinary diesel engine and have also been adapted for distribution trucks.
Today Scania’s new ethanol engines already meet the European Union’s Euro 5 emission standards − which become mandatory in 2009 − and the even tighter EEV standards without exhaust aftertreatment. Their technology is based on exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
For further information, please contact:
- Hans-Åke Danielsson, Press Manager, tel +46 8 553 856 62
- Fredrik Morsing, Director Alternative Fuels, Buses and Coaches,
mobile +46 76 127 27 11
