Press releases

Using buses is a great way of 'doing your bit' for the environment and easing road congestion. After all, one bus full of people can take up to 70 cars off our roads. Now Arriva has gone one step further, by using the latest technology to make its 6,000 strong UK bus fleet super fuel-efficient.

The bus operator has joined forces with fuel provider BP in a pioneering agreement to reduce fuel used on its buses, resulting in huge environmental benefits. A new state of the art fuel management system which monitors, in minute detail, fuel consumption on each bus it operates has been installed at depots across the UK.

The computerised system measures each depot's fuel tank stocks and movements remotely via a GSM phone line; fuel issued to each vehicle, and miles per gallon used, with all information collated centrally.

The new equipment will also help shape Arriva's future vehicle purchase decisions. And electronic tags on the vehicles - which identify the vehicle to the fuel pump - reduce the risk of theft.

In the UK , the Arriva bus fleet consumes almost 160 million litres of ultra low sulphur diesel every year. Arriva expects that, through these tighter management controls and streamlined processes, it will reduce fuel consumption by 7 per cent. As a direct result, there will be a reduction in pollutants entering the atmosphere, with CO 2 emissions reducing by more than 29 kilotons a year.

And Arriva is now using BP's advanced synthetic lubricants which produce less internal friction in the engine - resulting in less fuel needed to power the vehicle. Environmental benefits are twofold: less fuel is being used, and the new lubricants don't release toxins into the atmosphere.

Mark Bowd, director of technical services for Arriva, said:

We are committed to reducing the levels of harmful emissions into the environment through the effective selection, maintenance and fuelling of our vehicles. This latest technology will play a major part in helping us be more fuel efficient.

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