Scania Launches Latest Ethanol Bus Engine

Based on the company’s diesel engine technology, the new ethanol engine is certified for both Euro 5 and the slightly stricter EEV (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicles) emission standards.

At 43%, the thermal efficiency of the engine is on a par with the company’s diesel engines.

The new ethanol unit is an adaptation of Scania's latest 9-litre diesel engine with air-to-air charge cooling and exhaust gas recirculation. With unit injectors for each cylinder and twin balance shafts located in the oil sump, the five-cylinder engine delivers runs smoothly and economically.

Scania has been producing ethanol buses for more than 18 years. The technology is widely used in cities throughout Scandinavia and further afield, including Stockholm, Malmo, Oslo, Madrid and La Spezia. The company has sold some 600 ethanol buses in Sweden alone since it launched its first ethanol engine in1989.

A spokesperson for Scania commented: “Taking all environmental factors into account, as well as economical factors, we consider ethanol the best and most economical renewable fuel available on the market right now for urban operation in trucks and buses. Besides the environmental benefits, this is primarily because supply is ample and existing technology can be used."