Britain's first biomethane-powered bus has gone into operation, transporting passengers between Bath and Bristol Airport.
The Bio-Bus – manufactured by Scania and operated by Bath Bus Company – is powered by gas produced at a sewage treatment works, in Avonmouth.
The 40-seat vehicle can travel up to 300km on one tank of gas and is expected to transport up to 10,000 passengers each month.
The sewage treatment plant is run by GENeco, part of Wessex Water. Engineering consultancy CNG Services worked with GENeco to design and commission the new 'gas to grid' plant at the site.
"Gas powered vehicles have an important role to play in improving air quality in UK cities, but the Bio-Bus goes further than that and is actually powered by people living in the local area – including quite possibly those on the bus itself," says Mohammed Saddiq, GENeco general manager.
