GERMAN BUS INDUSTRY BUILDS 9 OUT OF 10 BUSES ABROAD
Published at 19.07.2008 in Company news, International developments
The German bus manufacturers increased their domestic production in the first six months of 2008 by 7 per cent. This growth was fed by the rising domestic demand. New registrations were up by 13 per cent, while exports fell slightly by 3 per cent. The growth in production was primarily due to the urban buses, whose production was up by 73 per cent in the first four months of the year.
TROPICAL BIOFUELS GETTING LESS AND LESS GREEN
A new analysis suggests that biofuels grown in the tropics are not a much greener source of energy than drilling for oil--at least in the short term. The research paints an even gloomier picture of biofuels than previous studies, which have begun to cast doubts on the greenhouse gas benefits that these alternatives to petroleum might provide, states the American journal Science in a recent article.
HUNDREDS OF ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES FOR THE CHINA OLYMPIC GAMES
Lithium battery powered buses to serve the Beijing Olympic Games are ready for the Games with the completion of a recharge station at the Dreamworld (the Olympic Village) in Beijing on July 6, 2008. During the games, 50 lithium battery-powered buses will shuttle athletes and officials between the Dreamworld and competition venues. The zero emission, low noise and environmentally friendly bus matches well the theme of a Green Olympics.
SCANIA HIGER A80 PASSED THE EUROPEAN ROLLOVER TEST STANDARD
On July 1st 2008 a Scania Higer A80 bus underwent the ECE R66-01 Bus Upper Framework Strength norm as published by UN European Economy Committee, and now also adopted by the Chinese government. It was carried out on the 12-meter Scania Higer A80 luxury bus in the China Quality Supervision and Testing Center for Buses, in Chongqing; the bus whitstood this tilt test successfully. Higer is the first Chinese bus manufacturer who succeeded in withstanding this test after the new standard came into force.
HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES ORDER FOR 7,748 HYBRID AND FUEL CELL BUSES
South Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai has signed an agreement to supply the city of Seoul with 7,748 eco-friendly buses, the order to be completed by 2018. The first batch of vehicles are so-called mild-hybrid buses, which are 10-15% more fuel-efficient than normal buses. Full-hybrid buses will be arriving in 2011 and zero-emissions Fuel Cell Electric Buses by 2013.
