Cummins has announced a clean diesel repower initiative for older buses in London’s new Ultra Low Emission Zone from 2019.
The initiative will allow pre-Euro VI legacy buses to continue operating in the capital beyond the introduction of the ULEZ and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the fleet. A Euro IV bus built in 2007, upgraded to the latest Euro VI 2017 standard, reduces particulate matter by almost 90 percent and nitrogen oxides by 50 percent. The repower also provides an economic and environmental benefit by ensuring an older bus can continue to operate, extending its lifespan by up to eight years and offering improved performance thanks to an increase in engine torque.
The Cummins repower features a stop/start system, automatically stopping the engine when passengers are boarding and alighting to eliminate fuel usage when the vehicle would normally be idling. On a regular duty cycle of 16 hours, the system can reduce fuel consumption by up to eight percent.
In comparison to a previous Euro V double decker, the fuel savings made by the more efficient Euro VI repower are in the range of £1500 to £2500 per year, while the carbon footprint is also reduced by as much as six tonnes per year.
“The Cummins repower initiative is intended to rapidly increase the number of Euro VI powered city buses on the road and make a significant contribution to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions as London and other cities move to establish Ultra Low Emission Zones”, said Ashley Watton, Cummins Director, On-Highway Business Europe. “Our repower package can incorporate smart features such as Cummins Stop/Start fuel saver and telematics with real-time engine data delivered over the air to the operator using Cummins Connected Diagnostics system. This means our Euro VI repower can significantly lower fleet operating costs and achieve higher uptime availability” he added.
The repower concept was proven by Cummins with the fitment of a Euro VI-compliant engine into a London Routemaster bus. RM1005 first entered service in 1962 and has recently operated on the London Transport heritage route, thanks to its Low Carbon-certified status. The Routemaster is considered the most challenging bus to repower due to a restricted powertrain envelope, but the success of that project means Cummins can successfully deliver a repower on every type of bus.
