Scania announced that in June it will begin to deliver 51 hybridized Scania Citywide buses to Spain’s capital city of Madrid. The company says the buses are compatible with up to 100 percent biodiesel or renewable diesel.

The buses will be placed into service by seven operators on behalf of Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid, which is responsible for the city’s public transportation.

“We are delighted that Madrid has recognized the advantages of Scania’s innovative hybrid technology and placed such a significant order,” said Klas Dahlberg, head of Scania’s buses and coaches.

According to Scania, Madrid is enforcing tough temporary measures to combat pollution, including requiring bus operators to transition toward greener technology. Conventional diesel has not been allowed in new buses since 2010.

“Many cities are cautiously examining the benefits of hybridization,” Dahlberg said, “but Madrid is now a leader in actually implementing alternative technology. These buses can help reduce CO2 emissions and make a substantial contribution to the agreed climate targets.”

The new Class II specification Scania Citywide, which feature cost savings and emissions-reducing hybrid technology meeting the EU suburban and short distance Class II regulations, can be operated at speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.

“This bus is ideally suited for combined city and suburban operations,” Dahlberg said. “That gives customers the opportunity to invest in carbon-saving operations with an estimated payback of just over five years, including battery replacements during the lifespan. By comparison, payback is some two years later in purely inner-city operations.”

The hybrid powertrain includes the Scania 9-liter engine and offers 320 horsepower with SCR-only technology, meaning selective catalytic reduction is used without a diesel particulate filter to meet stringent NOx and particulate matter regulations.

On the Citywide buses, the hybrid unit—an electric motor, generator and automatic clutch—is located between the engine and gearbox and is rated at 150 kW and 1,050 Nm.

A total of 1.2 kWh of energy storage is provided by a lithium-ion battery integrated in the roof structure at the front of the bus and is housed with a DC/DC voltage converter and a cooling unit. According to Scania, the use of its hybrid system together with a DC/DC converter, stop-start function and eco-roll provides significant fuel savings.