“Our 13-litre gas engine and new tank options facilitate travel operators to switch to biogas without issues with range and while still providing the power needed for any operation. Another upside is that it doesn’t take a huge investment,” says Jonas Strömberg, Sustainability Director, Scania Buses & Coaches.
Currently, biogas is used in compressed form mainly by city and suburban buses, cars and light transport vehicles, but has been less competitive for heavy long-distance vehicles, the OEM states. In recent years, technology that enables to cool the biogas, turning it into liquid and more energy-dense is available. This enables using the gas for heavy transport. The new engine and tank options make that a reality for Scania coaches.
“Biogas will be one of the key tools for decarbonisation of heavy duty transport – especially for intercity and long-distance operations. Half of Europe’s heavy duty gas fleet could be powered by biogas in 2025,” says Strömberg. The expansion of tank infrastructure for liquified gas in Europe is also ongoing.
Scania has developed gas engines for compressed and liquified gas for more than a century, and now makes the technology available for operators in need of more engine power. Running on both liquified gas (LBG/LNG) and compressed gas (CBG/CNG), the benefits with the new engine are many: it can use fossil-free fuel, renewable, locally produced that reduces emissions. “Biogas is not only one of the fuels with the lowest CO2 emissions – it also solves local waste problems, creates local jobs and brings carbon and nutrients back to the soil. It is circular economy in practise,” Strömberg adds.
With the possibility to use liquified gas and with the new tank options, the range achieved will be enough for any travel operation, according to Scania. The powertrain combination also makes it possible to build coaches in the same way as has previously been done with diesel engines.
Moreover, the 13-litre engine offers the power and torque of equivalent diesel engines, although no specifications were immediately available.
The 13-litre gas engine is available as an option on the recently-introduced high-floor Scania K-chassis that also offers an increase in load capacity in the front axle by 500kg and features a newly-developed suspension.