São Paulo to receive first ethanol buses in December

In Brazil, São Paulo will receive its first ethanol-powered bus in December. The first vehicle, developed by the University of São Paulo, Cenbio, and the Institute of Electrotechnics and Energy. According to the promoters, switching to ethanol will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 92 percent.

The project will launch with two buses, and expand to 10 by the end of 2008. The project cost was $890,000, of which one-third was financed by the European Union as a part of its Bioethanol for Sustainable Transport project. The project also includes the construction of ethanol refueling stations, and is now located in Stockholm, Rotterdam, Dublin, La Spezia , Madrid, and Nanyang. Scania, a Swedish manufacturer, provided the engine and chassis. Sweden has a fleet of 600 ethanol-powered buses.

Scania agreed with the Clinton Global Initiative to make ethanol-powered buses available to the same price as biodiesel buses for 409 world cities. The buses has cost $16,000 more than the diesel versions. The 40 cities include Athens, Beijing, Chicago, London, Sao Paulo, and Sydney.

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