Tour bus runs on cooking oil
11 Jun 2008
Tour bus runs on cooking oil
A New Zealand adventure tour company is claiming a world first with a bus that runs on used cooking oil.
Stray, a "hop-on-hop-off" bus network aimed at the backpacker market, has launched the bus to produce cleaner emissions and significant savings on running costs.
Managing director Neil Geddes said the 1982 Mercedes bus was converted to run on 100 per cent cooking oil rather than a blend or manufactured biofuel. As well as recycling a waste product, the bus had more power and visibly cleaner emissions, he said.
Chip shop credits
The bus was originally built to run across the desert in Australia and is now used for the company’s city orientation tours aimed at new travellers to Auckland. Geddes says the advantage is they’re never far from away from the local fish and chip shop where they get the waste oil.
"Being a bus company we have to live with the fact that we produce carbon - but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do everything we can to minimalise our output. Our plan is to increasingly seek out emission efficient solutions and reduce waste while still having fun and giving our customers one hell of an experience", says Stray Director Neil Geddes.
"It also allows considerable savings on running costs as well as being better for the environment," he added.
The travel company already prides itself on having one of the country’s most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly coach fleets. Most of its vehicles have been purpose-built and are less than three years old.
"They are amongst the most economical diesels on the market and meet Euro III and IV emission standards," says Geddes.
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