The Scania Fencer is an integrally-constructed range of full-size buses produced by Scania and bodied by Higer Bus which was launched initially in the United Kingdom in 2021. The Fencer is planned to be offered in single deck (f1), double deck (f9) and articulated (f18) variants with options for diesel, hybrid, biogas and electric drivetrains.[2]
Variants
Fencer f1
Scania Fencer F1 at the 2022 Euro Bus Expo
The single-decker Fencer f1 was the first of the Fencer range produced by Scania, with regular production of the Fencer f1 beginning in 2022; double-deck, tri-axle, articulated and coach variants have been confirmed to follow.[3][4] Scania also plans to build the Fencer to Transport for London specification and are also considering allowing other bodybuilders to body the Fencer chassis.[1]
A 12 m (39 ft) diesel single-decker Fencer f1 was sold to PC Coaches of Lincoln in 2021, following use as a Scania demonstrator.[5] A shorter 10.9 m (36 ft) demonstrator for the United Kingdom market with a Scania DC07 engine, as well as a battery electric variant, are both expected to be delivered in late 2022.[6][7]
Q-ParkHeathrow Airport were the first operator in the United Kingdom to place an order for the Fencer f1, ordering eleven 10.9 m (36 ft) Fencer f1s with DC07 engines on the new integral chassis, specified for airport bus services with air conditioning and luggage racking.[8] The first two Fencers from this order entered service in November 2022.[9] A further five Fencer f1s on Scania K280CB chassis were delivered to Ambassador Travel of Great Yarmouth and Passenger Plus of Tadworth in March 2023,[10]: 72: 78 later joined by a single delivery on the K280LB chassis for Moving People of Oswaldtwistle in July 2023.[11]
Estonian bus operator GoBus were the first continental European operator to order the Fencer f1, taking delivery of 24 CNG-fuelled examples, four of which entered service in Harju County in December 2021 and the remaining 20 entering service in Narva in June 2022.[12][13] 26 more Fencers have been ordered for delivery in 2022.[14][needs update]
A single Fencer f1 built on a battery electric bus chassis entered service with Santiago de Chile bus operator Voy Santiago S.A. in May 2023 for trial services in the city.[15][16][better source needed]
Fencer f6
In November 2021, Scania France took delivery of the first Fencer f6school coach, built exclusively for use on French school bus networks with a capacity of up to 63 seats as well as four wheelchair spaces. The f6 can be built on either a biodiesel or biogas powertrain, the latter of which increases the height of the coach to 3.60 metres (11.8 ft) compared to 3.31 metres (10.9 ft) for the biodisel coach, as the biogas canisters are stored on the roof. 50 orders for the Fencer f6 have been placed, with delivery of the first examples expected to take place in June 2022.[17][18]
^Lidstone, John G.; et al. (15 November 2022). "In Fleet News this month". Buses. No. 813. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 93. Retrieved 19 November 2022.(subscription required)
^Lidstone, John G.; et al. (11 May 2023). "In Fleet News this month". Buses. No. 819. Stamford: Key Publishing. Retrieved 23 May 2023.(subscription required)
^Lidstone, John G.; et al. (9 August 2023). "In Fleet News this month". Buses. No. 822. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 78. Retrieved 20 September 2023. Scania K280LB/Higer Fencer f1 B38F YT23 BHN Reggie was new in July for extended service 33 (Blackburn bus station-Darwen Circus).
^Cossard, Pierre (December 2021). "Scania France veut peser dans le secteur du car scolaire" [Scania France wants to influence the school bus sector]. Mobilités Autocars (in French). No. 25. Rueil-Malmaison: TG Press. pp. 2–4. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
