Biofuel-Powered Buses on Gold Coast

(Biofuels International) Two new buses running on sugarcane fuel will soon hit the road as part of a 12-month trial to be rolled out across the Mackay bus network in Australia. The buses will be built by Gold Coast manufacturer BusTech and will run on bioethanol fuel produced from locally-grown sugarcane in the Queensland trial.

The study is being backed by Scania, a Swedish manufacturer of commercial vehicles, and the Queensland Government.

Meaghan Scanlon, Queensland Minister for the Environment and Member for Gaven, said the trial was the latest example of the Government’s commitment to a greener bus future.

“Bioethanol is more environmentally-friendly than traditional diesel fuel used on many buses,” she said in a statement.

“We know public transport already delivers major environmental benefits and the use of zero-emissions buses only enhances the advantages of public transport.

“Research indicates that their bioethanol buses can reduce carbon by up to 90 per cent and there is an important role for biofuels as a stepping stone to zero emission transport technologies by 2050.”

Steven Miles, Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, believeds the trial had potential to influence state-wide demand for biofuel. READ MORE