The engines on the Ecolink buses are the cleanest and greenest in the UK, helping Nottingham to reduce its carbon footprint

Ecolink 30 route

Via Canning Circus, Ilkeston Road, past Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, past Wollaton Park entrance, Bramcote Lane, past Bramcote Lane shops, Deddington Lane, Eastcote Avenue, Grangewood Road, Wollaton Vale. Please click here to view the Ecolink 30 bus timetable

About the Ecolink 30 project and Ethanol FAQ's

• Did you know FAQ's about Ethanol?
• Why Ethanol powered buses?
• Where will the ethanol come from?
• What are the benefits of Ethanol?
• Where has the money come from?

Did you know?

• We are the first in the UK to use ethanol powered buses
  Ethanol buses are already in operation in Sweden, Spain, Poland and Italy, delivering significant reductions in CO2, NoX and particulates over their lifetime.
• The engines on the ecolink buses are the cleanest and the greenest in the UK.
  Most buses have Euro 3 engines, some even have Euro 4 engines to lower emissions even more. In the UK very few have Euro 5 engines, which have very low emmisions. These ecolink buses are even cleaner than Euro 5, they have an engine that is EEV standard (Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicles).
• Transport accounts for 25% of the UK's greenhouse gas emissions.
  This trial of ethanol buses is to assess the merits of ethanol in reducing the environmental impact of the transport sector in Nottingham.
• Scania buses are between 88% and 90% recyclable.
  These buses are mainly made using high-grade aluminium and plastics which can be recycled at the end of their lives.
• Up to 90% less CO2.*
  It would take 2499 trees a whole year to absorb the CO2 this bus would have made if it wasn't running on the climate cool fuel - ethanol!
  _{* this figure is based on each tree absorbing 12kg per year - UNEP Nov 2006}

Why Ethanol powered buses?

Scania Ethanol powered vehicles have been operating successfully throughout Sweden for at least 5 years, so it is a tried and tested technology. In fact, most buses used in Stockholm are powered by ethanol.

Ethanol powered buses are similar in cost when compared with diesel powered vehicles.

The ethanol powered Scania 'omnilinks have the very latest engine technology and out perform the Euro 5 emissions standard. In fact, they are to the higher EEV (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle) standard!

Where will the ethanol come from?

The initial delivery of ethanol fuel for the trial has been sourced and ordered from Sweden and is derived from the waste products of the Swedish paper and pulp industry. The wood used in these industries is provided from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) approved sustainable forests.

The use of wood to produce ethanol is believed to be one of the most energy efficient and sustainable methods of ethanol production. During the 'ecolink' trial the life-cycle costs of wood will be assessed, while the use of locally grown sugar beet and wood will also be considered.

What are the benefits of ethanol?

Its renewable!
The burning of ethanol does release CO2, but an equal amount of CO2 is absorbed while growing the plant/wood to produce the ethanol.

Ethanol produces up to 90% less CO2 compared to diesel. Research indicates that up to 30 tonnes of CO2 per year will be saved for each bus on the road.

Ethanol produces less particulates, which are damaging to health.

Ethanol powered vehicles produce less Nitrous Oxides (NoX), another powerful group of greenhouse gases.

The purchase of ethanol improves energy security by reducing the dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Where has the money come from?

Nottingham City Council successfully secured £520k funding from emda to purchase 3 ethanol powered buses and install an ethanol fuelling station. Nottingham City Transport will provide the staff and operating resources for the service 30 (City - Radford - Wollaton), where the ethanol buses will be trialled.

emda's funding is subject to the buses being used on an 18-month trial, where the technical, environmental, business and customer impacts of the 'ecolink' project will be assessed.