Gas buses

[X_STA/TA/Southlink]

Was going to put this in the Random AdMet thread but thought it was a worthy subject of its own.

Does anyone know - have the SA Government given up on the principle of buying CNG powered buses? I know that the ones that we have are a bit lacking in power (particularly NL 202's) for track and hills work but surely 15 years on engine technology has improved enough that they could be tried again?
What will happen with the gas refueling infrastructure once the NL232's reach their 25 year EOL? Does it just get abandoned?
Surely CNG is cheaper and more environmentally friendly for urban areas than diesel even if those diesels are Euro 5/6 compliant.

[The Phonj]

1319 was the last CNG bus built for Adelaide, being a demonstrator model (and basically attached to the ACTION Canberra CNG Scania L94 order). At the time, it was proposed that the upcoming order for Scania L94UB buses were to be CNG and from memory it was proposed to install CNG refuelling facilities at Elizabeth depot. Ultimately these buses were delivered as diesels.

While the CNG fuel may be cheaper to purchase; this saving may be offset by increased ownership costs and running costs from the nature of the CNG engine versus the diesel engine. A major item to consider is that while most diesel buses can easily last a couple of days without refuelling; the fuel tanks attached to CNG buses may only last for eight hours before being required to return to depot and refuel. With modern emission standards, the exhausts from diesel buses may be as 'clean' as those from a CNG bus; why generate additional problems if eco-friendliness is the message that is trying to be portrayed?

[Eagle Eye]

1319 had many problems early on in its life – unsure if this was during its trial period (before the rest of the order was placed) or not but this may have been a contributing factor. After the big failure of SL202 CNG buses on the O-Bahn track many years ago it was and still is unlikely any more gas buses will be trialled on the O-Bahn.

[Dave C]

The big failure of SL202 CNG's on the O-Bahn??

[Eagle Eye]

The big failure of SL202 CNG's on the O-Bahn??

Maybe I'll take back the word big, but they were slow to get up to speed and struggled on the incline from Paradise to Tea Tree Plaza, dropping to speeds of about 40-50km/h going up the hill whilst empty I believe.

[jibb]

Both Paris and Barcelona have very large fleets of Gas buses-very modern,and still getting deliveries of them ,both articulated and rigid buses.
They are very quiet and much more powerful than our fleets.

[Skexis]

Have Adelaide buses been chipped to be less responsive? Most seem to be utterly gutless, artics especially.

[jibb]

We don't have articulated gas buses?

[boronia]

Sydney seems to be moving away from gas buses. One depot has already closed down its gas facilities due to EOL, and the 405NHs are already being withdrawn due to the high cost of replacing the EOL tanks.

[Eagle Eye]

Have Adelaide buses been chipped to be less responsive? Most seem to be utterly gutless, artics especially.

K-series Scanias definitely have, however these are all diesel buses.
All of them by default have slower acceleration off the mark to aim to avoid passengers being injured from fast take-offs. This is a computer-controlled acceleration. (The opposite actually happens when the interlock is released by tapping the accelerator, especially on downhills!)
The Euro IV K-series Scanias were tuned down about 12 months ago so they change gears about 12-1300 revs, which appears to use less fuel but also make the buses accelerate slower.
The first 39 or so Euro V K-series Scanias had the kickback featured disabled, so you can't press the accelerator into a 'click' position to down gear whilst travelling uphill.
Most recently all O-Bahn equipped Scanias have been governed down to 85km/h and all Hills K-series artics have been governed down to 80km/h.

[Bus-1809]

Perth's O500LE CNG Buses are very responsive off the mark and have get up and go all around the place. The main problem they have is sticking wastegate valves which jam open and stop the turbo from boosting.

Brisbane's MAN 18.310 CNG's seem to have plenty of get up and go, even with a Voith.