Argos renews and plans for the future Argos, part of Home Retail Group, has selected 158 Scania trucks for its 2013 fleet renewal programme. In order to deliver the best possible return on investment, each vehicle is equipped with a range of aids designed to boost fuel and environmental performance. In addition, Scania is working with Argos's in-house team of driver-trainers to develop a driver-development programme with the joint-aims of improving driver-training and maintaining the gains achieved over the long term. Deliveries to various Argos locations around the country are being managed by Scania (Great Britain) Limited's South West, South East and Scotland regions, together with independent dealers Keltruck and TruckEast. All but one of the trucks being
supplied are Scania P 400 LA4x2MNA tractor units plated at 38-tonnes gross train weight, with the remaining vehicle being a 38-tonne Scania R 560 LA4x2MNA Griffin specification tractor unit with Topline cab. This flagship model will be used exclusively by the holder of the
Reading Buses goes for gas
Argos Driver of the Month title. In order to achieve the best possible transport economy and gain maximum environmental benefit, Argos has extended the trucks' specification to include long side skirts, low rolling resistance tyres and customdesigned, low drag catwalks.
To assist the driver, Scania Driver Support and Scania Active Prediction have both been included. These, together with input from the vehicles' onboard telematics systems, will form part of the driver development and follow-up programme being designed by Scania and Argos.
The UK's first 20 Scania-ADL gas-powered buses have been delivered to Reading Buses and are now operating on a variety of services in and around the Reading area. Based on 12-metre Scania KUB 4x2 chassis, the vehicles are powered by Scania's OG9 GO4 gas engine, a 270 horsepower EEV 9.3-litre five-cylinder energy efficient lean burn unit capable of operating on either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Bio Natural Gas (BNG). The engine offers high efficiency and low fuel consumption with no need for exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). It is based on the same platform as Scania's modular-build 9.3-litre diesel engine, which limits the number of new components required for the low entry gas chassis to around 40 items. The vehicles feature single-deck 40-seat Enviro E300SG bodywork, designed and engineered by ADL, Scania's gas bus development partner. Commenting on the delivery, Reading Buses Chief Executive Officer James Freeman says, "When we ordered these vehicles, we were continuing our long history of innovation whereby we have consistently sought to operate at the leading edge, both in terms of efficiency and with regard to environmental standards. The combination of stylish, proven, British-built bodywork with technology that promises high performance, minimal running costs and a carbon-neutral fuel solution, ticks all of the boxes for us." Read more about Scania-ADL gas-powered buses on page 34.
[ FIRST GEAR ] SCENE SCANIA • 7