There is a limited time remaining to bid for a share of £7.89 million to upgrade buses and coaches with technology such as the Eminox SCRT® system, as part of the second-phase Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) fund.
Applications are based on strategic fit and considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Phase one saw 47 buses upgraded.
The deadline for applications is 12pm, March 1, 2019.
UK-based emissions reduction specialist Eminox Limited has designed SCRT® systems to coincide with the requirements stipulated by BEAR, and these can be used to upgrade buses and coaches to Euro VI emissions standards. The system is proven to reduce harmful emissions such as particulate matter (PM) by up to 95%, as well as nitrogen oxide (NOx) by up to 99%, in real-world, urban operations.
Bids must include retrofit solutions approved by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS). Eminox was the first company to be awarded this accreditation, for its SCRT® system. (See the full list of vehicles on the Energy Saving Trust website.)
The funding will cover up to 60% of costs for:
· Equipment and installation
· Maintenance and AdBlue (minimum five years, or to bus life expectancy of typically 16 years)
· Warranty specifically relating to the retrofitted equipment (minimum five years)
· Telematics and data specifically relating to the retrofitted equipment (minimum 5 years)
· Bus cover, training and pre-installation work
Eminox SCRT® technology has been used to upgrade over 4,500 vehicles and it was also used as part of the £86 million Transport for London programme to upgrade around 5,000 buses.
Carlos Vicente, Retrofit Sales Director at Eminox, said: “This funding is a great opportunity for operators to obtain financial assistance to future-proof their fleets. Retrofit SCRT® technology can be used to upgrade your vehicles and bring them up to the Euro VI standards that will be required to enter many major cities adopting clean air zones. For more than 40 years, Eminox has provided solutions, support and exhaust aftertreatment expertise as part of a complete package for our customers.
“As the number of clean air zones (CAZs) continues to grow, starting with the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), fleet operators need to prepare for stricter emissions controls. It is crucial for these operators to act now and benefit from the funding the Scottish government is offering, to enable them to upgrade their vehicles in time for the changes.”
Current air quality management areas (AQMAs) in Scotland include:
· Aberdeen City Council
· City of Edinburgh Council
· Dundee City Council
· East Dunbartonshire Council
· East Lothian Council
· Falkirk Council
· Fife Council
· Glasgow City Council
· Highland Council
· North Lanarkshire Council
· Perth and Kinross Council
· Renfrewshire Council
· South Lanarkshire Council
· West Lothian Council
For information on Eminox Retrofit Solutions, visit www.eminox.com.
