We all know by now that mass land transportation is the most sustainable way of traveling. What if we told you even that could be greener with a few simple choices?
There are around 5 million buses and coaches in the world covering over 100 billion kilometers a year. If ONE of these vehicles became 500 kilograms lighter, it would mean a 3 990 kg cut in carbon dioxide emissions every year per bus. Energy consumption would decrease, passenger capacity would increase, and the environmental footprint of the bus would be smaller.
Stalatube is the global market leader in stainless steel bus and coach body and chassis tubes and components. Our aim is not only to help customers create the world’s most light-weight bus body while maintaining impact safety – we also aim to provide them the most sustainable solutions in the market. We achieve this by ensuring sustainable material chains and environmentally-friendly production methods.
The key to increased sustainability lies in materials. We source our high-quality raw materials carefully with our European partners, making sure the whole material chain is transparent and ecological. 2/3 of the stainless steel used in our production come from recycled materials. And of course, stainless steel itself is not only 100 % recyclable but also non-toxic and with its high corrosion resistance practically maintenance-free.
Lighter construction equals heavier sustainability
Our 500 kg OFF “The most lightweight bus body material concept” takes sustainability even further. Through wise material selection and carefully choosing the ideal tube dimensions and thicknesses the bus body becomes considerably lighter in weight, resulting in material savings and lower life cycle costs – and the difference is quite remarkable compared to a traditional carbon steel bus.
Our strength classes, STALA400F for stronger ferritics and STALA630D for stronger Lean Duplex, enable the manufacturing of even lighter bus bodies, thanks to the material’s yield strength of up to 630 MPa, together with its excellent elongation and energy absorption properties.
Additional environmental benefits from lighter bus bodies come from reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions as well as improved passenger capacity. More passengers per bus means smaller fleets, again reducing costs and fuel consumption.
How about a future where ALL bus bodies were made of Stalatube’s lightweight, durable and sustainable stainless steel structures? Now that would be a giant step towards a greener tomorrow.
Read more about our stainless steel solutions for bus and coach body structures.