A collaboration between Scania, mobility provider Flixbus and gas supplier Gasum, is set to put the first long distance biogas coach on the road operating the Stockholm-Oslo route.
Biogas is currently used in compressed form mainly by city buses, cars and light transport vehicles, but has so far been less competitive for heavy long-distance vehicles, Scania says.
In recent years, technology has been developed to cool the biogas to around minus 160 degrees Celsius so that it becomes liquid and more energy-dense.
This opens up the possibility of using the gas for heavy transport, both by land and by sea.
Availability of biogas will improve quickly throughout Europe, especially as the EU decided to make fuelling points available along main European road networks, Scania says.
“As the first long distance coach powered by biogas, this is probably the most sustainable coach solution today,” Scania customer unit head Johan Ekberg says.
Liquid biogas is fossil-free, renewable, can be locally produced and reduces emissions.
By switching to locally produced liquid biogas as fuel in long-distance trucks or buses, operators reduce both their own and their customers’ climate impact by more than 90%, Scania says.
“Biogas is not only the fuel with the lowest CO2 emissions – it also solves local waste problems, creates local jobs and brings carbon and nutrients back to the soil. It is the Swiss Army Knife of circular economy,” Scania sustainability director Jonas Strömberg says.
Currently, 17% of Europe’s gas grid is biogas, and it´s rising rapidly, actively contributing to CO2 emission cuts. In Sweden´s vehicle gas grid the biogas share is 95%.
“Biogas will be one of the key tools for decarbonisation of heavy duty transport – especially for long distance operations like intercity and long-haulage.
“Half of Europe’s heavy duty gas fleet could be powered by biogas in 2025,” Strömberg says.
