May 28, 2022. This Tuesday, May 24, Tours Métropole presented the first gas-powered bus in its network. The result of a tender won by Scania, it will be operated by Keolis, manager of the Fil Bleu network, during the coming months.
Capable of traveling 450 kilometers on a full tank, this “new generation” vehicle offers more than enough autonomy to ensure one day of operation. It also embodies the latest aesthetic novelties of the network with a color scheme similar to that of the tram.
Also, the equipment has been redesigned. Brighter thanks to the large windows, the interior has a new design that leaves more space for wheelchairs and baby strollers. There are also USB ports for charging mobile devices.
In total, Tours Métropole has ordered 45 buses running on natural gas. While the first 15 units will officially go into service by the end of the year, 15 will follow in 2023 and another 15 in 2024. Eventually, almost 30% of the 160 vehicles in the French Metropolis will run on natural gas.
“It is the most up-to-date energy both in terms of autonomy and cost. The gas bus costs €250,000 per unit, compared to €800,000 for hydrogen,” explains Wilfried Schwartz, President of the Touraine Mobility Union. In total, 21 million euros have been invested for the acquisition of the fleet and the deployment of a refueling station installed in the depot.
