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IVECO GAS-POWERED COACH MAKES OFFICIAL WORLD DEBUT

THE IVECO ‘NATURAL POWER RANGE’ of vehicles is now complete with the company globally premiering its Crossway Natural Power coach at Autocar Expo in Lyon, France, late yesterday.

Futureproofed for any potential future market uptake in the ingeniously thought-out idea of synthetic methane – a by-product of using electrical energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar – the new Natural Power Coach gives insight into the forward thinking of the company and arguably added weight to its claim as, “undisputed leader in the intercity segment.”

According to the company, the Crossway Natural Power – powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) – has all of the features that have made the diesel version such a success: autonomy, passenger capacity and luggage space, as well as maintaining the same height and equivalent operating cost.

As a pioneer of alternative-drive buses, with a range of electrical and natural gas vehicles, Iveco says it is “…taking another step forward with the world premiere of its Crossway Natural Power”.

After “making history” with the launch of the Crossway Low Entry Natural Power – voted Sustainable Bus of the Year 2018, at Busworld in 2017 – Iveco Bus says it, “confirms its commitment to energy transition and alternative fuels.”

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GOING FORWARD

As Iveco explains, the Crossway Natural Power is equipped with the latest-generation Iveco Cursor 9 NP engine, produced at the FPT Industrial plant, a brand of CNH Industrial – and includes a clever design integrating the compressed gas tanks into the roof.

This exclusive patented feature, it says, optimises the vehicle’s centre of gravity for greater on-road stability and increases comfort for the driver and passengers.

The design also makes it the lowest vehicle on the market, in terms of overall height, meaning that it can be operated without specific restrictions, it’s claimed.

The Crossway NP coach provides the same accessibility, passenger capacity and luggage space as the diesel version. With a total capacity of 1,260 litres (four 315-litre tanks) the vehicle has a range of up to 600km, and is compatible with rapid or slow filling.

The Cursor 9 NP engine delivers 360hp (approx. 268kW), the same as its diesel equivalent. The interior has a minimum two-metre height and features hand-luggage racks.

Available as 12- or 13-metre models, and in LINE and POP versions, the Crossway NP is, “the new alternative for regions, counties and cities wishing to provide transport solutions … fully compatible with ‘energy transition’ projects,” the company states.

Natural gas vehicles are recognised as clean vehicles for Low-Traffic Areas and Clean Air Protection Areas, and are compatible with Crit’Air 1 criteria, it says.

The company has also developed a series of related services: from maintenance contracts to specific training modules, as well as a network of dealers and service points with long-standing expertise in the field of natural gas, to aid energy transition for its customers, it says.

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AT THE SHOW

At Autocar Expo, Iveco displayed a 13-metre, 63-seat air-conditioned LINE model equipped with a ‘rapid filling input’ on display.

According to Iveco, the Natural Power range also helps conserve natural resources, as it is 100 per cent compatible with bio-methane, produced from organic waste. The vehicles thus have an excellent carbon balance and represent a significant step towards energy transition, it says.

The environmental benefit is a reduction in greenhouse gas production of up to 95 per cent, as claimed.

GOOD THINKING, BATMAN!

Other solutions, such as ‘Power to Gas’, aim to produce synthetic methane using electrical energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar. This solution also includes storage and distribution throughout the network.

Natural gas vehicles are therefore the only proven, affordable fossil-fuel-free solution equipped to meet today’s and tomorrow’s mobility challenges, it says.

THE FULL MONTY

Iveco Bus says its Natural Power vehicle range is now complete, with Urbanway buses, Crealis High Service Level trolley buses, Daily minibuses, Crossway Low Entry suburban buses and Crossway coaches, as well as Iveco’s other NGV vehicles, such as Stralis and Eurocargo trucks for household waste collection, urban logistics and construction site trucks, mixer trucks and Daily light commercial vehicles.

This range of options contributes to the deployment and profitability of a network of NGV stations for heavy vehicles throughout France, it states.

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