This will make Leicester one of just four UK cities to operate an all-electric bus fleet, joining London, Norwich and York, whose switch was announced earlier this month.
First Bus plans to have added 600 electric buses to its fleet by March 2024, with 117 of these being spread across Bramley and York, Hoeford (Hampshire), and Norwich. It will pay 58% of the total cost for these non-Leicester depots, with Zebra contributing the remainder.
“Through this co-funding with the Zebra scheme, we’re excited to electrify another five of our UK depots before March 2024,” said First Bus managing director Janette Bell.
Nissan is now using two battery electric vehicle (BEV) Class 8 trucks to deliver new vehicles from the Port of Los Angeles to dealerships in the Los Angeles region.
The first dealership deliveries with the BEV trucks, to Downey Nissan in California, included Nissan’s all-new, all-electric crossover, the 2023 Ariya EV. The crossover offers an option for everyone with eight well-equipped grade levels. Ariya FWD trims are on sale now, with deliveries of e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive trims to follow this spring.
US Foods joins other companies that have purchased Freightliner eCascadias. Meijer, Walmart, Sysco, and Schneider are among the companies using the Freightliner EV semis, which debuted in May 2022.
“At US Foods, we are committed to reducing our absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 32.5 percent by 2032, and the deployment of our first zero-emission trucks is a critical step in our long-range plans to achieve this commitment,” said Dan Bennett, vice president of fleet and sustainability at US Foods. “Our ongoing investment in alternative fuel vehicles is a testament to our dedication to reducing the environmental footprint of our growing fleet. We are thrilled to celebrate this meaningful milestone as we continue to increase the sustainability of our operations.”
Utility vehicle manufacturer Polaris has launched a new electric 4-wheeler that it calls “the hardest-working, smoothest-riding UTV ever built.” The Ranger XP Kinetic features a new electric powertrain that Polaris developed in partnership with Zero Motorcycles.
Polaris points out that an electric powertrain offers many advantages for off-road utility vehicles. “It delivers smooth, precise control at low speeds, so customers will have full control and confidence while towing, backing up to a trailer or spraying a fence line. When it’s time to have some fun, the instantaneous torque also delivers quicker acceleration for an exhilarating ride.”
The absence of engine noise enables en route conversations, stealthy trips to hunting spots, and quiet operation around horses and other livestock. Fewer moving parts means less maintenance—scheduled maintenance costs are expected to be 70% less compared to similar gas-powered vehicles.
Toyota continues to promote hydrogen-powered vehicles over BEV, pointing out the internal combustion engine produce instant throttle response and a ‘pleasing engine note’.
Lexus has revealed the ROV Concept, the company’s first hydrogen-powered vehicle.
Choosing to build an ROV (recreational off-highway vehicle) may seem a strange move for a luxury car brand. However, Lexus says it wants to bring a premium experience to the off-road domain.
More significantly, the ROV Concept demonstrates an all-new hydrogen-burning combustion engine.
The plane used for the flight was one of United’s Boeing 737 Max 8s. More than 100 passengers, including the company’s CEO Scott Kirby, were on board the demonstration flight, which took off from Chicago’s O’Hare airport and landed at Washington, DC’s Reagan National Airport.
Airplanes are normally only permitted to fly with a maximum of 50 percent SAF on board. Any flight using SAF is currently blending SAF and conventional jet fuel in the same engine. But for this test, United received special permission to use 500 gallons of 100 percent SAF in one engine and the same amount of conventional fuel in the other.
The test was done to prove there are no operational differences between the two — and to set the stage for the future of aviation with more scalable uses of SAF.
During the 612-mile flight, the engine using SAF emitted 75 percent less carbon dioxide than an engine using conventional fuel normally would, according to United. They claim SAF is already compatible with existing plane fleets, so no engine modifications would be needed to accommodate the biofuel.
United CEO Scott Kirby, said in a statement »
Today’s SAF flight is not only a significant milestone for efforts to decarbonize our industry, but when combined with the surge in commitments to produce and purchase alternative fuels, we’re demonstrating the scalable and impactful way companies can join together and play a role in addressing the biggest challenge of our lifetimes.
United Airlines has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 100% by 2050 without relying on carbon offsets.
