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29 SEPTEMBER 2003
STAGECOACH SIGNS DEAL FOR COMMERCIAL EVALUATION OF NEWFUEL ADDITIVE
- 21st Century technology could transform performance of UKs bus fleet
- Innovative product brings fuel consumption and environmental benefits
Stagecoach Group islaunching a commercial evaluation of a new fuel additive that could transformthe environmental and operational performance of buses across the UK.
The Group has signed anagreement with Cerulean International Ltd, the Oxford-based subsidiary of the nanomaterialscompany Oxonica Ltd, to trial the next generation product in up to 1,000vehicles across the country.
Initial trials of theinnovative nanocatalyst technology in Hong Kong delivered a 10% fuelconsumption reduction. There was also a significant cut in carbon deposits inthe engine and lower vehicle emissions.
Stagecoach has started asix-month trial of the product and plans to adopt the next generationtechnology across its 7,000-vehicle UK bus fleet if the commercial evaluationis successful.
Brian Souter, StagecoachGroup Chief Executive, said: We believe this new product has hugepotential and we are delighted to once again be leading the way in the UK busindustry in developing new ideas.
Stagecoachis committed to playing its partin building a sustainable environment and improving the environmentalmanagement of its operations. This is yet another example of our drive todevelop transport solutions that will improve the quality of life in our townsand cities.
Stuart Anderson, BusinessDirector of Cerulean, said: We are very excited about the potential benefitsof this product and, following extensive successful field trials overseas, weare delighted that Stagecoach have decided to evaluate this product in the UK.We look forward to delivering the same fuel savings and associatedenvironmental benefits here in our home market.
MORE
Nanotechnology researchis a key technology of the 21st century and is used to design andbuild materials the size of an atom. Scientists work in nanometres, each ofwhich is 1/80000th of the diameter of a human hair.
The fuel additive, knownas Envirox, is based on a well-known oxidation catalyst widely used incatalytic converters. The material hasbeen re-engineered to allow it to be used as a fuel-borne catalyst, leading toa cleaner burn within the combustion chamber, resulting in improved fuelefficiency and lower emissions. No engine modifications are required to use theproduct, it has no impact on lubricant performance and the optimum dose ratesare low.
Stagecoachhas invested 120million in the last three years in new state-of-the art busfleets with reduced emissions. All new Stagecoach vehicles meet tough Euro IIIemissions standards and all buses have changed to use low sulphur fuel.
Trolleybuses and electric buses have also been trialled in the companys New Zealandbusiness as part of efforts to cut the impact of operations on the localenvironment.
ENDS
For further information,please contact:
Steve Stewart, StagecoachGroup, tel + 44 (0) 1738 4421111, + 44(0) 7764 774680, or e-mail: steven.stewart@stagecoachgroup.com
Nigel Robson, Vortex PR,tel: +44 (0) 1481 233080 or e-mail: Nigel@vortexpr.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
Stagecoach Group is aleading international transport operator, with bus and rail operations in theUK, the United States and New Zealand.
More than two millionpeople a day travel on Stagecoach bus services in the UK, which cover around100 towns and cities from the Highlands of Scotland to the south west ofEngland.
Cerulean InternationalLtd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxonica Ltd, a high-technology companyworking in the field of applied nanotechnology - science on the atomic scale.
Oxonica was created in1999, to commercialise intellectual property developed over seven years at theUniversity of Oxford by Professor Peter Dobson and Dr Gareth Wakefield. Oxonica has gone on to add further intellectualproperty to its portfolio, and currently has 22 filed patents.
Lord Sainsbury recentlyannounced the DTIs injection of 90m of funding into nanotechnology.