STAGECOACH INVESTS IN BIOFUEL BUSES
Published at 28.10.2008 in Alternatives, Public transport
Stagecoach has placed a order worth 3 million British Pounds for state-of-the-art vehicles to operate on what is considered to be the longest and greenest guided busway in the world. The fleet of 20 vehicles - which will run on 100% biofuel produced from recycled food waste - will go into service on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway when it opens in April 2009.
HISPANO COOPERATES WITH ALEXANDER DENNIS AND TECNOBUS
Published at 27.10.2008 in Company news, International developments
Hispano has signed a collaboration agreement with Tecnobus, an Italian manufacturer of minibuses with electric or hybrid-electric drive. Hispano offers two Tecnobus models, one electric and the other hydrogen-powered, based on the U520ESP program. Hispano is a member of the Indian Tata group.
NEW TYPE OF ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FOR HYBRID BUSES
Sheffield University spin-out Magnomatics, which develops novel high-torque magnetic gearboxes, motors and generators, is leading a consortium to produce high torque density electric drives which could among others be applied in hybrid buses. The company says its technology is also suitable for applications such as wind turbines, hybrid cars, aircraft and domestic equipment, and is being applied in the UK-government-backed Low Carbon Vehicles Integrated Delivery Programme.
NEW ECONOMIC MERCEDES-BENZ FOUR-CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE
Mercedes-Benz has invested €500m in a new four-cylinder diesel engine that has just gone into production at the group's Untertürkheim facility. The company claims that the new engine combines great performance with outstanding efficiency, boasting fuel-consumption figures of only 5.2 liters per 100 kilometers and carbon dioxide emissions of 138 grams CO2/km.
ROADS FOR THE FUTURE
Published at 26.10.2008 in Infrastructure, Technology
Speakers at the recently held 3rd European Road Congress looked at ways of preparing infrastructure to cater for future mobility demands. These demands were among others formulated as a substantial reduction of road accidents within Europe. It can be achieved through implementing more technology into the vehicles, which will make them costlier.
