Yutong, Alcoa to roll out eco-friendly bus in Aug

Shanghai, July 16 (Gasgoo.com) China's leading bus-maker Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co. and world-famous aluminum producer Alcoa Inc. announced on July 12 that they would jointly launch an environmentally friendly bus model (code-named ZK6126HGE) in August, auto.sohu.com reported yesterday. The bus model uses a lot of aluminum materials to lose its weight by 46% and to lower its fuel consumption.

A research result released by German IFEU (Institute for Energy and Environmental Research) in 2007 said that a diesel bus could save up to 2,550 liters of diesel as well as lower the CO2 emissions in its running period if the bus weight could be cut by 100kg.

"We target to cut more than 1,000kg off each bus together with Yutong Group," said Robert S. Wetherbee, Vice President of Alcoa's Market Strategy. "Actually, we have reduced 1,400kg from a 12-meter-long city bus, an 11.6% weight loss for the bus in empty running,” he added.

The all aluminum bus can get 46% lighter in weight than a conventional bus. Robert believed the higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions brought by the bus weight loss will surely promote China’s energy-saving move and improve the environment.

Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co. is a large-scale Chinese enterprise with bus making as its core business, engineering machinery and real estate as its strategic business, and at the same time giving attention to other investment portfolios.

Alcoa is the world's producer and provider of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major businesses of the industry.