Scania sells another 100 natural gas-powered buses in Australia

Scania has sold another 100 gas-powered city buses to Brisbane in Australia. "This is a follow-up to a previous order for 120 gas buses, and it confirms that we have a highly competitive product in this sector," says Kaj Färm, MD of Scania Australia. The customer is Brisbane City Council and the gas-powered buses are part of the city's focus on improving the environment.

The buses will be delivered over the next two years. They are part of Brisbane's strategy for improving the environment and boosting public transport over a five-year period.

Scania buses have long held a strong position on the Australian market. "We have more than doubled our sales this year," comments Kaj Färm. "We now have a market share of about 20 per cent. Australia is also Scania's largest market for gas-powered buses, with more than 320 units sold."

The gas-powered buses destined for Brisbane are built on Scania's L94 UB4x2 low-floor chassis and feature an aluminium body from domestic bodybuilder Volgren, with whom Scania enjoys close co-operation. The gas tanks on the roof are made of a composite material, which means they are both lightweight and strong. The operating range on a full tank is 450 km.

The longitudinally installed 260 hp gas engine is based on Scania's 9-litre diesel power unit. A gas engine operates according to the Otto combustion principle, so it is quieter than an engine with conventional fuel injection.

"This, combined with the low emissions, makes the gas engine highly suitable for buses in urban traffic, where the environmental demands are particularly high," explains Kaj Färm.