Swedish truck maker Scania hinted that it would be presenting some new biogas engines at last year’s Hannover IAA truck expo.in Germany and now the Traton owned brand has revealed the new units with a twist, in that they are now paired with two-thirds of the successful Super-based powertrain.
Scania is claiming noted and confirmed fuel savings of five per cent from the trio of new biogas engines, which are coupled with the G25 gearboxes and axles from their diesel sibling, with the company saying that the results come from the components working so well together.
“When we paired these components, it soon became obvious that we had a hit in the making,” said Ola Henriksson, senior product manager for renewable fuels at Scania Trucks.
“Just as the Super engine benefits from the increased spread in the G25 gearbox, so do the biogas engines. When paired with the Scania Opticruise gearbox and the new axles, the biogas engines can operate very close to their ‘sweet spot’ most of the time. Put together, it results in five per cent fuel savings from this powertrain.” Henriksson said.
Scania says the interest in biomethane fuels for trucks, such as Bio-LNG or Bio-CNG, is rapidly increasing in Europe, with many companies and transport buyers aiming to decarbonise their road transport fleets here and now.
The company adds that biomethane-based solutions are readily available via a rapidly growing fuel-station networks within Europe, and the CO2-emissions can be reduced by up to 90 per cent from a well-to-wheel perspective.
“Biomethane fuels are definitely the solution for those customers who want to start a decarbonisation journey without any delay,” said Henriksson.
“Our biogas engines cover a wide span of industries and applications. A 40-tonne prime mover and single trailer combination can achieve ranges of up to 1,800 km when specified with the biggest Bio-LNG tank solutions that we offer. Add the 460 hp and the 2,300 Nm our OC13 engine offers to the equation and you have a perfect tool for European long-haul,” he said.
Scania says that pairing its new biogas engines with its new G25 gearbox and the rear axle from its Super-based powertrain has proved to be a success, underlining those fuel savings of five per cent which have been confirmed and also mentioning that with Bio-LNG or Bio-CNG there will be a CO2 reduction of up to 90 per cent, something that is achievable immediately.
The increased demand across Europe has driven the expanding rapidly networks of biogas filling stations by the major players in the fuel industry. The company said that reducing the CO2 footprint is no longer something only ‘green’ companies are doing for winning public acclaim, pointing to the fact that it is a pure necessity for most kinds of serious transporters and saying that all available means must be used.
Scania has revealed that the new biogas engines are based on the 13-litre gas engine that Scania has offered for several years and that by increasing engine power levels and preparing for future legal demands, Scania is demonstrating its intention to gain an even bigger market share in the quest for decarbonisation.
“With the CO2 reductions, the driveability and the ranges we offer now, I am convinced that more customers will recognise what a great solution this is,” said Henriksson.
“There are so many obvious pros and virtually no cons at all. And the driver also enjoys significantly lower noise levels in the cab.”
The company says that Australian customers keen to know more about how this technology can assist in their carbon footprint reduction programme should contact their local Scania branch.
“We are open to providing these engines to Australian customers who express an interest,” says Benjamin Nye, director of truck sales for Scania Australia.
“We are always keen to assist customers who want to take a significant step towards reducing their emissions, and fuel burn, benefiting their operating costs without impacting uptime,” Nye said.
