Fish 'n' chip oil fuelling tourist bus

Neil Geddes with a bottle of the recycled frying oil that powers his 1982 Mercedes vehicle. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A New Zealand tour company is claiming a world first with a tourist bus that runs on used cooking oil.

Stray, a "hop-on-hop-off" bus network aimed at the backpacker market, has launched the bus to produce cleaner emissions and significant savings on running costs.

Managing director Neil Geddes said the 1982 Mercedes bus used the 100 per cent cooking oil rather than a blend or manufactured biofuel.

He said the bus now used recycled waste oil from the Gordonton fish and chip shop, near the company workshop, and was looking for a regular Auckland supplier.

"Fish and chip shops usually have to pay $10 a barrel for people to take their waste oil away so it could be a real money saver for a big oil user."

The used oil needs to sit for three weeks for sediment to settle.

Mr Geddes said the bus was used for city orientation tours aimed at new visitors to Auckland who expected sustainable tourism.

"The majority of our bus fleet has been purpose built and delivered new over the past three years. They are among the most economical diesels on the market and meet Euro III emission requirements."