Wrightbus is reporting 21% fuel and CO2 savings when version three of its Micro Hybrid system is added to a standard Euro 6 diesel engine.

The competitive Fuel Economy Trials at Millbrook showed a significant improvement on the 11% savings delivered by Micro Hybrid version 2. The additional 10% savings are being attributed to version 3 featuring a third smart alternator, electric air compressor and stop/start engine technology.

Brian Maybin, engineering director, for Wrightbus said: 'We are delighted with this year's set of results where our latest bus technologies are pitted against those from other manufacturers. The Micro Hybrid 3 results make particularly impressive reading and the trial has clearly demonstrated how it can make a significant difference to a bus's fuel consumption.

'We are firmly committed to the development of new, greener and cleaner technology for buses and our R&D spend exceeds £500,000 per year. Our highly-skilled engineering team spends 12 months each year preparing for the next set of trials to source new technologies and techniques that will deliver further fuel and emissions reductions'

The Millbrook trials are an annual event for the UK bus industry that are used to benchmark the relative fuel economy performance of vehicles from a range of manufacturers. Each bus undertakes identical simulated route cycles under test conditions and fuel consumption is scientifically recorded and measured. The exercise gives authoritative independent comparison in a vital operating cost areas for operators.

Wrightbus's Micro Hybrid system was developed exclusively by the company and draws energy generated from a bus's braking system. The energy is then stored and recycled and used to power pneumatic and electrical systems on the vehicle, which would otherwise need to draw power generated from the engine.

The first generation of Micro Hybrid technology was introduced in 2014, with Micro Hybrid 2 made available across the StreetLite and StreetDeck ranges in 2015. Micro Hybrid 3 is now available across the Wrightbus range.