Scania ethanol buses to improve Oslo environment

Scania ethanol buses to improve Oslo environment

The Norwegian public transport company AS Oslo Sporveier is choosing Scania as a
supplier when it begins the transition to biofuel-powered city buses. In March
2008, 18 Scania ethanol buses go into service in Norway's capital.

Oslo Sporveier's decision to introduce ethanol buses on a large scale is based
on good experience in the Swedish capital of Stockholm during more than 15 years
of operating Scania ethanol buses. According to the company's calculations, its
18 ethanol buses will reduce carbon dioxide emissions in Oslo by 600 tonnes per
year.   

“Ethanol is the best renewable fuel available today. Even today, it can
contribute to a sustainable public transport system,” says Hans Hansson, head of
Scania Buses and Coaches. 

By “sustainable”, Scania means both from an environmental and economic
perspective.   

“Ethanol is by far the most cost-effective renewable fuel in the market today,
taking into account factors like availability, infrastructure and access to
proven technology. New technologies such as hybrids are around the corner and
fuel cells could become viable in ten years' time, but there is no reason to
wait,” Mr Hansson says.

Internationally, interest in ethanol-powered engines is now increasing. As the
only manufacturer of ethanol buses, Scania has begun to supply such buses for
testing by public transport systems in Great Britain, Poland, Hungary, Italy,
Spain and China.

The net effect of ethanol depends on how the fuel is produced. Ethanol made from
sugar cane can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90 per cent compared to
a similar engine operating on fossil fuel.

Carbon dioxide from renewable fuels is part of a natural eco-cycle and does not
increase atmospheric CO2 levels. There is heavy demand for ethanol as a vehicle
fuel, and production is increasing rapidly around the world. Ethanol is handled
in the same way as other liquid vehicle fuels, which means that existing
distribution infrastructure can be used. 

For further information, please contact: Hans-Åke Danielsson, Press Manager, 
tel. +46 8 553 856 62, e-mail hans-ake.danielsson@scania.com 




Scania is one of the world's leading manufacturers of trucks and buses for heavy
transport applications, and of industrial and marine engines. A growing
proportion of the company's operations consists of products and services in the
financial and service sectors, assuring Scania customers of cost-effective
transport solutions and maximum uptime. Employing 32,800 people, Scania operates
in about 100 countries. Research and development activities are concentrated in
Sweden, while production takes place in Europe and South America, with
facilities for global interchange of both components and complete vehicles. Bus
and coach production takes place in Sweden, Brazil and Mexico, while
bodybuilding takes place in Poland and Russia. In 2006, invoiced sales totalled
SEK 70.7 billion and the net income amounted to SEK 5.9 billion. 

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