The Clean Fleets team are pleased to announce the publication of a report for public bus procurers and transport operators, which aims to provide a comprehensive review of practical encounters with different fuel and technology options for clean buses.

The report entitled Clean Buses – Experiences with Fuel and Technology Options brings together the experiences of over 100 European public authorities and transport operators. It seeks to give a clear, yet in-depth analysis with examples of trials and demonstrations of using buses with a range of fuel and technology types and innovative bus solutions.

The report provides a clear, systematic assessment of 17 different fuel and technology options covering environmental performance, market development, costs and other practical aspects related to the buses described.

Over 40 experts including Clean Fleets project partners, public transport operators, public authorities, research institutions, transport associations and consultants provided input into the report.

Aimed at supporting the work of professionals working in the field of procurement, particular emphasis is placed on individual experiences from cities, local authorities and public transport operators.

Download the report (pdf)

The City of Baia Mare in Romania has opted for a new environmentally friendly approach to procurement of public transport vehicles, both in policy and practice, and will be introducing its first buses meeting the Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) standard to its fleet from 2013. 

Following an extensive market review, the city published an open tender which was concluded in 2012. Over a three year period, 30 new EEV solo (standard) buses and 8 trolleybuses will be delivered to serve the citizens of Baia Mare.

Download the full case study here

The Clean Fleets project is presenting the second in a series of four European workshops on procurement of clean and energy-efficient vehicles in London from 25-26 March 2014.

The workshop, which aims to bring together procurement practitioners from across Europe to exchange policy, practice and learning from each other’s experiences will be hosted by Clean Fleet project partner Transport for London (TfL) at London’s Royal Victoria Docks, E16 1GB.

It will discuss:

• London Transport Policy, Planning and Strategies - how these are working towards clean and sustainable transport.
• Procurement of clean buses – covering TfL’s commercial procurement strategy and the experience of other European Member States.
• How pollutants and emissions from road vehicles, especially particulate matter emissions, will need to be reduced further – including:
  • How retro-fitting various pollution reduction technologies can reduce particulate matter and nitrous oxide emissions.
  • The future of clean bus technology and how this fits into London’s bus programme.

During a half-day study visit, participants will have the opportunity to network, visit the Crystal, the world’s largest exhibition of the future of cities showcasing global trends in sustainable transport solutions and experience London from above on the city’s Emirates cable car, which connects North and South London.

The workshop is open to public authorities and fleet operators in Europe, and other relevant stakeholders. It is free of charge.

Click here to find out more

Board of Syndicat des Transports d’ Île de France (STIF) in Paris , the authority which organises public transport in the French capital and the surrounding area, has revealed ambitious plans to cut fine particle fleet emissions by 50 percent over the next two years.

The state-owned public transport operator Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens (RATP), which is largely responsible for public transport in the Île-de-France region, is charged with the task of initiating a bus acquisition programme to meet this target by 2016.

In order to achieve this, 90 new Bio-methane/Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses have already been purchased and the existing network of CNG facilities in the Île-de-France will be developed to meet the growing need in this sector. At present France’s limited bio-methane reserves means the buses will primarily be relying on CNG until bio-methane supplies have been sufficiently built up.

The two-year program signals the city’s move away from buses operating solely on diesel in favour of a fleet comprised entirely of electric and CNG/bio-methane buses. Eighty percent of CNG buses currently operating in France have been manufactured within the country according to AFGNV, France’s industry association for natural gas vehicles.

This bus acquisition programme is part of a wider STIF initiative known as the Urban Transport Plan which seeks to achieve a 20 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions within the of Île-de-France.

Based on the average twelve-year operational lifespan of buses STIF envisages that the current fleet of 4,500 buses serving RATP Paris and the inner suburbs, as well as the 4,500 buses serving the outer suburbs outsourced to the private operator Optile, will be replaced by the CNG/bio-methane alternatives by 2025.

Source: ngvglobal