A partnership between Lucketts Travel, Scania and Green Biofuels has conducted what the OEM believes is the UK’s first trial of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in scheduled coaches.
The experiment, which ran for three months, provided like-for-like comparison data from seven coaches that used HVO and seven fuelled with diesel. All were used on National Express services between Portsmouth and London.
Feedback taken as part of HVO trial in coaches
As part of the trial, the 14 coaches were monitored with regards to engine performance, fuel consumption and oil quality. Feedback from drivers, passengers and maintenance staff was also taken into account.
HVO can be used in all Scania vehicles with Euro 5 or Euro 6 engines. It is also suitable for the majority of Scania’s Euro 4 models. The manufacturer says that HVO provides a ‘here and now’ solution to operators wanting to reduce their environmental impact.
“It is a clean biofuel that is produced from vegetable or animal oils and fats or similar waste material,” says UK Bus and Coach Fleet Sales General Manager Mark Oliver.
“HVO not only maintains the Euro 6 environmental standard, but it also offers a well-to-wheel CO2 reduction of up to 90%. Its properties are very similar to those of diesel except that its calorific value is slightly higher.”
‘Flexible fuel’ for many applications, says Scania
Mr Oliver adds that HVO can be blended or replaced with diesel at any time, making it a highly-flexible solution for use in coaches.
Lucketts Travel Director Ian Luckett reports that the HVO trial demonstrates that the biofuel is “an extremely attractive possibility” for introduction on a full-time basis. “It would be relatively straightforward, with no modifications or retrofitting required. We are very much looking forward to the outcomes of the trial.”
HVO used in the experiment was supplied by Green Biofuels, the UK’s sole importer of HVO produced by Finland-based Neste.
