Scania has reached a special milestone with operator partner Kinetic, delivering the 100th hybrid-electric bus model to the operator’s Victorian branch.
“The 100th delivery to Kinetic is a milestone for Scania Bus and Coach in Australia,” Scania Bus and Power Solutions director of sales Julian Gurney says.
“We were very confident that the Scania hybrid-electric bus powertrain would be welcomed by Australian operators, because it delivers everyday reductions in fuel burn and emissions, with no additional infrastructure requirements.
“In service performance suggests up to 30 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions, plus the ability to drive in silent mode when approaching or departing from bus stops.”
Gurney says the success of the powertrain has been on full display, with the model also compatible with biodiesel, which can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 to 90 per cent depending on the operating environment.
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“We, of course, would encourage operators to consider switching to biodiesel to achieve these impressive CO2 reductions, especially because their depots can easily accommodate bulk storage of biodiesel,” Gurney says.
“We have been seeing an increase in interest in biodiesel as a way to achieve significant emissions reductions without the need to invest in significant EV charging facilities and equipment, and there is no restriction on range with biodiesel.”
The Scania Hybrid-Electric powertrain has been available in Australia for more than five years and around 300 bus chassis have been delivered equipped with this technology so far.
“We are confident that the Scania hybrid-electric concept, with its ease of operation and its low implementation cost relative to BEV, will continue to make inroads into the Australian market as we transition to a more sustainable transport system,” Gurney says.
Kinetic executive general manager of assets Daniel Head also commemorated the partnership following the milestone delivery.
“We’re proud to continue working with our partners to lessen the environmental impact of public transport and create a better customer experience that encourages more people to use it,” Head says.
“Every time we replace a diesel bus, we immediately reduce emissions, and that’s something we’re proud to be doing at scale across Australasia.”
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