Reading Buses places major order for 19 ADL Enviro300 Scania gas-powered buses

ADL Enviro300 Scania gas-powered bus

In a move designed to reduce its carbon footprint and drive down operating costs Reading Buses is to invest £3.5m in a fleet of 19 gas-powered buses developed jointly by ADL and Scania.

ADL Enviro300 Scania gas-powered bus

They will be the first ADL-Scania gas buses to enter service in the United Kingdom and will operate on a variety of services in and around the Reading area, including a major contract serving Green Park, Madjeski Stadium and Kennet Island.

Based on the 12-metre Scania KUB 4×2 chassis, the vehicles will be powered by Scania’s 270 BHP EEV 9.3-litre five-cylinder, energy efficient lean burn gas engine, which is capable of operating on either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Bio Natural Gas (BNG). The engine offers high efficiency and low fuel consumption with no need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). It is based on the same platform as Scania’s modular-build 9.3-litre diesel engine, which limits the number of new components required for the low entry gas chassis to around 40 items.

The vehicles will feature single-deck 40-seat Enviro300 bodywork, designed and engineered by ADL, Scania’s gas bus development partner. A third company closely involved in the project is Gas Bus Alliance (GBA), which will provide infrastructure and fuel supply to Reading Buses.

Commenting on the order, James Freeman, CEO of Reading Buses, said: “Our business has a long history of innovation and has consistently sought to operate at the leading edge, both in terms of efficiency and with regard to environmental standards. The combination of stylish, proven, British-built bodywork with technology that promises high performance, minimal running costs and a carbon-neutral fuel solution, ticks all of the boxes for us.

“Furthermore, we have a long track record of successful partnerships with both Scania and ADL and go into this initiative with the knowledge that they can offer incomparable aftermarket support. Additionally, the new gas vehicles will share a large number of common components with the 100-plus Scania vehicles already in our bus fleet.”

Scania’s Bus, Coach and Engine Sales Director Tony Tomsett added: “We are naturally delighted that the UK’s first Scania-powered gas buses are going to such a high profile operator as Reading Buses. Bringing this project to fruition has seen a great collaborative effort between us, ADL and GBA and I would like to thank all concerned for the hard work put in to date to ensure the success of this ground-breaking venture.”

Robert Davey, ADL’s Commercial Director, said: “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do as a business and providing a raft of green, alternative solutions remains top of our agenda. This landmark partnership with Scania tackles the challenge of neutral emissions and improved air quality head-on and we are delighted to be working with them. Collaboration is the name of the game if we are to harness best-in-class technology and bring it to market in a way that makes sense for manufacturers and operators. As ever, Reading is in the vanguard of those pioneering new technology and operating excellence.”

Under Reading Buses’ contract with the GBA, a kilogramme of bio-methane will be injected into the national gas grid for every kilogramme of gas used by each vehicle in the company’s new fleet. As such, the entire operation qualifies for carbon-neutral status.