First West has also announced a second, larger gas refuelling station, opening soon at its Lawrence Hill depot, designed and built by the Gas Bus Alliance.
The biogas vehicles are based on Scania N UB4x2 chassis with bodies by Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL). They are powered by Scania’s OC09 101 9-litre, five-cylinder, Euro VI dedicated gas engine driving through a ZF 6AP 1202B EcoLife six-speed fully automatic gearbox equipped with ZF’s Topodyn automated gear selection programme.
The engine produces 276bhp at 1,900rpm and 1,350Nm torque at 1,000-1,400rpm, and can run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or biogas.
The chassis are equipped with ADL’s 11.5m-long, 4.3m-high City-style Enviro400 body. They have capacity for 68 seated passengers, with another 12 standing.
The buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% and NOx by 95% when compared to diesel equivalents.