A tender for up to 55 gas buses in Grenoble, Semitag opts for CNG technology (again)
25 natural gas buses (with option for further 30) have been put out on a tender in Grenoble, where the latest diesel buses are going to be replaced to less polluting CNG-powered vehicles. The call for tender has been launched on 17th March by Sémitag, as reported on Gaz-mobilite.fr. The buses will hit the road […]
25 natural gas buses (with option for further 30) have been put out on a tender in Grenoble, where the latest diesel buses are going to be replaced to less polluting CNG-powered vehicles. The call for tender has been launched on 17th March by Sémitag, as reported on Gaz-mobilite.fr.
The buses will hit the road of Grenoble Alpes-Métropole, where already 122 gas buses are in operation, following the very first introduction of this kind of technology in 2002.
Up to 55 CNG buses for Grenoble
The call for tender issued by Sémitag, which operates the Grenoble regional public transport network, is spit in four lots. The first focuses on the procurement of 25 12-meter low-floor buses with CNG engine. The other three lots are optional, Gas-mobilie.fr reports, and include three batches of 15, 10 and 5 vehicles respectively. Size and features are the same as in the first lot. As of today, the only buses not powered with CNG in Grenoble’s bus fleet are powered through hybrid and diesel powertrain (around 50 units respectively).
Safra to deliver an electric bus with CNG range extender
Also, still according to Gas-mobilie.fr, Grenoble and SEMITAG will launch at the end of the year a first pilot with an unusual battery-electric bus equipped with a CNG range extender. The novelty, coming from French producer Safra, will be tested from November on a peri-urban line in the city.
Scania, the first LNG buses in Italy
In the past two years Scania has been delivering around 50 Citywide low floor with CNG drivetrain. Also 8 articulated CNG buses were ordered. The same manufacturer has delivered in late 2019 in Bologna (Italy) the first LNG buses in Europe, following the first European public call for tender. Remaining in France, although quite far from Grenoble, in 2018 a Scania Interlink LD powered with ED945 has been running on a pilot between Bordeaux and Blaye, deployed by the transport operator Citram Aquitaine. ED945 is made with the contribution of grape marc, the residue produced in wine-making process.
