The UK’s first “number two” bus is to hit the road powered entirely by human and food waste
A Bio-Bus which runs entirely on gas generated by human and food waste has carried its first passengers. The 40-seater has a range of up to 186 miles on one tank of gas, the equivalent of around five people’s waste over a year. It is being used to provide a shuttle service between Bristol Airport and Bath city centre.
Engineers believe Bio-Bus could provide a sustainable way of fuelling public transport while improving urban air quality. The gas, biomethane, produces fewer emissions than traditional diesel engines and is both renewable and sustainable.
It is generated at Bristol sewage treatment works, which is run by GENeco, a subsidiary of Wessex Water.
“Using biomethane in this way not only provides a sustainable fuel, but also reduces our reliance on traditional fossil fuels.” The annual waste generated from one bus load of passengers would provide enough power for a return journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
Report : Sarah Kerr