Europe’s first Euro 6 coach for gas operations, Scania OmniExpress 3.20, is presently being tested in the French county of Vendée, along the Atlantic seaboard. Initially the bus will be used on a 30-kilometre school route and subsequently be put in operation on a regular 200-kilometre line. The bus seats 55 passengers and has space for one wheelchair. It carries eight 150-litre gas tanks, which is sufficient for a 500 kilometre journey.
Scania supplies the OmniExpress bus with a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG / Biomethane powered 9-litre 280/320 hp Euro 6, 1 350–1 500 Nm engine. Gas capacity is 1,200 litres or 1,500 litres.
The trial bus is fuelled by locally generated biogas, which is produced by ten farmers at four farms. They have produced biogas since April 2014, which is injected into the gas network of the city of Mortagne-sur-Sevre.
“With its large population and economic growth, Vendée is consuming more and more energy,” Yves Auvinet, President of the Vendée County Council, said when introducing the project. “This test is part of our action plan to substantially increase local energy production.”
(Source: Scania) Sovetours will operate the bus, initially on a school route and later on a regular line.
