Scania has completed delivery of 17 new biogas-powered double-decker buses to Reading Buses (UK), according to a new press release. The new biogas-powered buses are being put into service on Reading’s reportedly busiest route, the “Purple 17.”
Notably, this is apparently the first “frequent bus service” in the UK that will be able to accommodate 2 different wheelchair passengers at the same time.
Of all of the non-battery-electric transportation modalities out there, biogas-powered is without any exceptions the most viable, in my opinion. If anything, biogas actually has a lot more that could be said positively about it than the battery-electric modality — owing to the ease at which large quantities of the stuff can be made from what is otherwise considered to be waste.
If governments are truly serious about reducing reliance upon fossil fuels, then a widespread implementation of biogas production and utilization programs would make a lot of sense. Given how much livestock there is in the UK, you’d think that the government there would have jumped on biogas back in the 1980s, but it certainly didn’t happen that way.
Back to the subject at hand, the CEO of Reading Buses, Martijn Gilbert, commented: “We’re delighted to have been able to work with Scania and Alexander Dennis on a pioneering high specification for these city buses. These provide users with modern and eco-friendly travel including a range of features to aid customers’ journeys, with the latest digital connectivity and extra features for wheelchair users.”
That comment is primarily a reference to the 2-door design (one for entering, one for exiting); the accommodations for wheelchair users; and the availability of 4G Wi-Fi as well as USB charging outlets, among other things.
An exec for Scania Great Britain by the name of Mark Oliver commented as well: “Scania is firmly committed to driving the shift to more sustainable transport systems. When operating on biogas, the carbon dioxide emissions of Scania buses are reduced by up to 84% compared to regular diesel. They are significantly quieter too, making them an ideal choice for urban operations.”
Something to keep in mind about that statement is that in actuality, the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from biogas usage were going to (partially) occur anyway, regardless of whether or not people position themselves between the rotting wastes in question and the release of the methane into the atmosphere or not. The situation is a fundamentally different one than fossil fuel burning is.
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