World’s Largest Bio-Gas Double Deck Fleet will More than Double in Size Following OLEV Funding Announcement
Today Wed 6th Feb 2019
Nottingham City Transport’s fleet of 53 bio-gas double deck buses will more than double in size this year, as a further 67 join the City Operator of the Year’s fleet.
NCT has been successful in securing a further £1.12m from OLEV (Office of Low Emission Vehicles), which will be used to expand its bio-methane refuelling station at its main bus depot.
The announcement was made today at the UK Bus Summit by Buses Minister Nusrat Ghani, who commented: “This government is doing more than ever before to reduce emissions across all modes of transport and I’m delighted to see the bus industry putting itself at the forefront of this.”
Expanding the bio-gas refuelling station is necessary for NCT to be able to fuel more gas buses and this funding announcement paves the way for NCT to confirm its order for 67 more bio-gas double decks, representing a total investment by NCT of £20m.
The first of the 67 buses will enter service on Brown Line 17 to Hucknall Road, City Hospital and Bulwell in April, with further routes announced and launched throughout the remainder of the year. It is expected all 120 bio-gas buses will be running by November.
The introduction of further bio-gas double decks allows NCT to withdraw its oldest buses (pre-2011), with Pink Line 28 to Bilborough set to receive these new buses in the summer.
Gary Mason, NCT Engineering Director said, “With 53 Bio-Gas double deck buses already successfully operating in Nottingham and making a significant impact on reducing emissions in the city, this announcement for funding to expand our gas refuelling station paves the way for investment by NCT in a further 67 Bio-Gas double decks to join the fleet this year”.
He continued, “This fleet of 120 Bio-Gas double decks, coupled with the retrofitting of exhaust treatment systems to our diesel buses, demonstrates NCTs support for cleaning up Nottingham’s air, contributing to Nottingham City Council’s overall clean air strategy.”
Bio-gas double decks are the greenest buses on the road, with well-to-wheel emissions that are 84% lower than an equivalent new diesel double deck.
With 120, more than half the NCT double deck fleet will be fuelled by bio-gas by the end of the year.
Alongside this significant investment by NCT in new buses, the company is also fitting exhaust treatment systems to its existing younger diesel buses, following funding secured by Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council last year.
This will see all NCT buses meet the most stringent Euro VI emissions standards across its fleet within a year, supporting Nottingham City Council’s clean air strategy.
Dave Liversidge Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Transport said, “It’s great news that NCT will be able to double the size of their biogas fuelling station, which means we’ll soon be seeing even more clean, green biogas buses on our streets.
He continued, “Great public transport is so important - not just to help people move around the city, but also to improve the quality of the air we all breathe. Biogas buses have already played a vital part in reducing air pollution in the city, and expanding the fuelling station will enable NCT to operate one of the cleanest bus fleets in the country. We’re pleased to have supported them in this bid as Nottingham continues to lead the way in improving air quality.”
