The vehicle will now be transported to ADL’s Falkirk plant for fitment of its complete bus body, an Enviro 400MMC.
Based on a Scania N 280 UD4x2EB, the vehicle harnesses Scania’s OC09 101 280bhp nine-litre, five-cylinder, Euro 6 gas – compressed natural gas (CNG) or biogas – engine, developing up to 1,350Nm torque.
It drives through a ZF EcoLife six-speed fully automatic gearbox incorporating ZF’s Topodyn automated gear selection programme.
To meet Euro 6 emission levels, the new engine employs a three-way catalyst and EGR (I exhaust gas recirculation), but does not require SCR (selective catalytic reduction).
Fitment of the vehicle’s ADL Enviro 400MMC body is scheduled to be completed by late spring this year, after which it will move on to a nationwide demonstration programme, according to Mark Oliver, UK Fleet sales manager, bus and coach, at Scania.
“With its ultra-low low emissions and quiet operation, this vehicle represents an extremely attractive proposition to the UK bus industry,” states Oliver.
“As such, there is already significant interest in our demonstration programme, which will be supported by our partner roadgas, who will provide a mobile refuelling station for the vehicle as it tours the country.”
In the UK, gas-powered Scania buses have been working since April 2013, when Reading Buses became the first operator to adopt them.
To ensure a readily-available supply of fuel, an in-house CNG filling station was installed at this operator’s HQ. The filling station sources its fuel from the gas main, with all gas extracted replaced by a biogas – making Reading’s a carbon-neutral operation.