FEATURE
DEVELOPING TOGETHER Laura Del Col (centre left) says that communication and teamwork is key at Scania.
sizing. The higher the exhaust flow rate, the shorter time the catalyst can use to reduce the emissions. The experiments were re-run and confirmed in test cells at R&D in Södertälje. And we realised: the new engine was that good; we actually achieved this significant reduction of mass flow and, more importantly, fuel during the tests,” says Nilsson. For her part, Pukk has fond memories of driving the test trucks down to southern Spain. “The feel of the trucks and the new powertrain was absolutely amazing. I couldn’t believe how quiet and smooth it was to drive the truck. It’s a personal memory that will stay with me forever,” she says. 22 MAY 2022
Making coaching more efficient
We reach up to 50% in brake thermal efficiency”
With up to 5% less fuel consumption, coach operators should expect the most energyefficient Scania coaches yet, which will also meet or even surpass emission targets. It’s crucial for coach operators to minimise the fuel consumption of their vehicles. Fuel is one of the main contributors to the total cost of operation, and margins are tight. A further challenge is adapting to tough new environmental laws restricting Nitrogen Oxide and CO2 emissions. And coach customers increasingly expect sustainable travel, too. Scania understands these ‘pain points’, and has put fuel efficiency and lower emissions at the heart of the new Scania
bus and coach generation. Three years of intensive R&D have produced fuel consumption savings of up to 5%, depending on emission class (Euro 6, Euro 5, etc). “At the outset of this project we set a target of reducing fuel consumption for our travel coaches by an average of four to five% from our previous model. I’m happy to say that we have achieved that, thanks mainly to the new powertrain,” says Niklas Berglund, expert engineer at Energy Consumption, Bus Chassis Development. That the coaches are using the same types of driveline components from Scania trucks has also been beneficial. “While the coach sector still lacks an equivalent energy use standard to city buses’ Standardised On-Road Test (SORT), the fact Scania trucks with these components have won the annual green truck award five years running, plus numerous other industry tests, means most comparisons in energy efficiency will be the same,” says Berglund. The new engines also meet or even surpass the more stringent Eu6E emissions guidelines; reassuring for operators facing ever tighter regulations. And, all Scania coaches and buses can be run on biofuel, a cleaner option and an important stepping stone on the way to fossil-free transport. After three years of groundbreaking development, Scania is giving coach operators the most fuel-efficient, sustainable, comfortable and driveable vehicles yet. “This is an important step forward for Scania. We have to lessen the amount of traffic that’s on the road, and buses have an incredibly important role to play in boosting public transport and sustainability,” says Berglund. “My main hope from this new bus generation is that it will really open customers’ eyes to our tremendously good powertrain in terms of its energy consumption and emissions levels. “And that they also understand that we can truly go not just nearer neutral in terms of fossil fuels, but switch to biofuels, where possible.” The search for autonomy
Beyond its work in engines and powertrains, Scania is also concentrating a lot of its effort into how autonomous technology and improve transport efficiency. Meet: Laura Dal Col. Early in her life she decided she wanted to do something meaningful for society and the environment. As a manager at the Scania Autonomous meconstructionnews.com
