18. September 2023
Driving sustainability: Flix and Scania unveil a long-term partnership to enhance use of biogas in bus travel.
+++ By 2025, Flix and Scania aim to equip up to 50 coaches with Bio-LNG (LBG) technology, to be run by Flix’s bus partners across the FlixBus network.
+++ With this partnership, Flix and Scania want to progressively enhance use of biogas in bus travel, with an expected CO2 emissions cut of around 80% for coaches entirely running on Bio-LNG.
+++ Fleet transformation is a key lever in Flix’s long-term strategy for decarbonization, with 2040 as a set timeframe for full carbon neutrality in Europe.
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Munich/Södertälje, 18 September 2023 – On the occasion of the European Mobility Week 2023, Flix and Scania announce a long-term partnership to enable more sustainable long-distance travel. The two companies see this cooperation as an opportunity to accelerate the green transition in mobility by developing new solutions and influencing the design of the needed infrastructure.
As a first objective, the two companies aim to equip up to 50 LNG (Liquefied gas) coaches of the Flix bus partners in their fleet. The technologies used, developed and manufactured by Scania, are devised to allow the use of LNG and Bio-LNG (LBG) interchangeably to facilitate the transition towards the most sustainable gas solution.
In the initial phase of the project, the coaches will run on different fuel mixes of bio and fossil origin. The goal of the project is to progressively increase the share of Bio-LNG (LBG) from organic waste in such mixes until the coaches fully run on Bio-LNG, resulting in an expected CO2 emission reduction rate of around 80% on average. This objective falls within the framework of Flix’s long-term goal of carbon neutrality.
The outfitting of the coaches is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Irizar, the global bus and coach manufacturer, is integrating the Irizar i6s Efficient with the Scania chassis.
Scania’s previous experience with biogas buses has already made it possible to strongly cut CO2 emissions compared to diesel along with lowering noise, while still relying on the power and torque of equivalent diesel engines. These advantages make biogas a viable and circular option for long-distance actors seeking to profitably increase their sustainable performance.
«Climate change is increasingly taking its toll on the planet and people’s lives, and as a global travel tech company we are aware of our responsibility in paving the way for a more sustainable future for the communities we serve. Therefore, we are eager to seize any viable opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint on the environment, with fleet transformation being crucial to this end. Scania is an extremely valuable ally for Flix and our bus partners, who operate the business, in different countries, and we are happy to be able to rely on their long-term expertise and know-how to contribute to reshaping long-distance mobility. In time, this will also help us adapt our offering to the rising demand for low-impact travel options from a public that is growing more and more environmentally conscious by the day», has commented Fabian Stenger, Chief Operating Officer at Flix.
«Our ambition is to be a front-runner in the shift towards sustainable transport, and this collaboration with Flix represents a significant step in that direction. Biogas solutions are truly circular, and they are possible to implement here-and-now, providing a sustainable solution today that meets climate targets and reinforces social responsibility. The LBG/LNG coaches also represent a smart and sensible choice, because they supply the range and power needed to support any route, at low cost in terms of both investment and operating economy. We are extremely happy to do this jointly with Flix as we know that a wide implementation of biogas solutions can have such a positive impact, not only for the operator, but also for authorities and society at large», says Johanna Salomonsson Lind, SVP and Head of People Transport Solutions at Scania.
While more and more operators in local public transport are joining the fight against climate change by embracing clean energy sources, there is still no technology enabling zero-emission bus travel over long distances. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important for actors in the industry to tackle the issue of traffic pollution and find effective ways, like biogas technologies, to reduce their CO2 footprint.
Indeed, Flix and Scania are constantly looking at ways of reducing their impact on the environment with a scientific approach, and both players are committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which provides companies with a clearly defined path to reduce emissions in line with the Paris Agreement goals.
Flix’s participation in SBTi relates to its newly announced commitment to full decarbonization in Europe by 2040, well ahead of the timeframe set by the Paris Agreement. This long-term objective is being pursued by enacting a holistic four-principle climate strategy, where fleet transformation plays a crucial role through alternative drives and fuels. Among these, biogas technologies have great potential and are already set for use and ready for scale-up in the FlixBus fleet. Of course, the availability of refueling infrastructure in Europe plays a crucial role in making biogas a valuable energy source.
As the first major manufacturer of heavy commercial vehicles to commit to the SBTi, Scania’s far-reaching climate targets state that the company should cut CO2 emissions from their own operations by 50% by 2025 and reduce emissions from their products by 20% during the same period.
Biogas: why choose it and what are the advantages?
Using biogas comes with several benefits at the environmental as well as at the social and economic level. By re-using sewage and waste to produce fuel, it creates new jobs and improves energy security, thus biogas stands out as a circular, sustainable solution able to positively affect society at large, on top of the operators themselves because of lowered operational costs.
Therefore, biogas can be an essential tool for decarbonization of heavy-duty transport, but also for the overall sustainability of the sector itself. This is consistent with the all-encompassing ESG vision shared by Flix and Scania, one that not only addresses the environmental aspects but also the social and economic impact of one’s business initiatives across their scope of action.
Consistently with its technology-neutral stance, along with biogas, Flix is also currently investigating other solutions for long-distance travel to implement together with its bus partners.
More on Flix’s vision and efforts around sustainability can be found in its first voluntary ESG report for Financial Year 2022, available for download here: corporate.flixbus.com/sustainability
Likewise, Scania’s annual and sustainability report for Financial Year 2022 is available for download here: www.scania.com/group/en/home/investors/annual-review.html
About Flix
Flix intends to transform the public transport sector by offering sustainable and affordable long-distance bus- and train travel solutions in more than 40 countries across four continents. With its asset-light business model and innovative technology platform, Flix has swiftly established a market-leading position for long-distance bus travel in Europe, North America and Türkiye and is rapidly expanding further into South America and India through its brands FlixBus, FlixTrain, Kamil Koç, and Greyhound.
Driven by increased awareness for sustainable travel, Flix aims to become carbon neutral in Europe by 2040 and globally by 2050. To assess its progress within a scientifically recognized framework, Flix established near-term targets for emissions reduction with the Science Based Targets initiative.
While Flix manages the commercial side of the business such as network planning, pricing, operations control, marketing and sales, quality management and continuous product development with a data-driven approach, trusted Flix partners conduct the daily operations. The innovative combination of Flix’s technology and sales platform with traditional passenger travel has turned a European start-up into a leading and globally expanding travel tech company.
For more information, please visit corporate.flix.com