Compagas, together with Scania and in partnership with the Municipality of Ponta Grossa, presented this Monday (July 31) the 100% natural gas bus that will integrate public transport in the Campos Gerais municipal hub, starting this Tuesday (August 1) and for the next 30 days.
The action is part of the project linked to sustainable urban mobility, which is carried out in the main cities of the State of Paraná, and whose objective is to certify efficiency indicators, in particular the reduction of polluting emissions in the use of vehicles and the contribution to sustainability goals.
The Mayor of Ponta Grossa Elizabeth Silveira Schmidt joined the launch and highlighted the importance of the project for the city. “Carrying out these tests is part of the city council’s efforts to offer an increasingly better transportation system for the population. This bus can transport up to 90 passengers, has air conditioning and uses sustainable fuel, which is excellent for the environment,” said the official.
The action in Ponta Grossa is the fourth carried out by the project coordinated by Compagas and Scania. The first tests were held in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, together with the Government of Paraná, and in the State Capital, together with the Municipality of Curitiba. In addition, throughout June, the same vehicle circulated in Londrina, fueled by biomethane. In the three locations, the feasibility of using natural gas buses in complex and extensive lines was demonstrated, guaranteeing autonomy and lower emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere.
The General Director of Compagas Rafael Lamastra Jr. highlighted that with the first tests it was possible to verify the figures presented by the manufacturer and demonstrate the efficiency of the vehicle in practice. “In Curitiba, the competitiveness of CNG compared to diesel was greater, ensuring a reduction in operating costs of around 10%, while the emission of pollutants was 20% lower. That is, more economy and sustainability for urban transport,” he assured.
Lamastra also explained that these results were obtained with only one bus on the route and that a concentrated operation with more vehicles can guarantee even more benefits to the local economy. “Natural gas public transport vehicles are a reality in the main cities of the world, and we need to apply this technology in our State, replacing diesel vehicles with CNG models, capable of contributing to the environment, the health of the population and the economy,” he added.
The demo bus will work on different lines. The goal is for it to pass through the main roads of Ponta Grossa and serve a greater number of people. The 100% CNG-powered vehicle will be incorporated into the Viação Campos Gerais (VCG) fleet and will operate from Monday to Saturday, between the hours of conventional buses that pass through the Nova Rusia, Uvaranas, Central and Office terminals.
“With our tests, we are demonstrating the viability of natural gas buses as a solution for more sustainable mobility. We need other sources of energy so that we no longer have a 100% diesel matrix. We continue to fulfill the mission of leading the transition towards a more sustainable passenger transport system,” stated Celso Mendonça, Mobility Solutions Sales Manager at Scania Commercial Operations Brazil.
“We are sure that in Ponta Grossa we will be able to show all the benefits of the gas model for this city of potential size and vision of the future and intelligent development”, he concluded.
Source: Paraná State News Agency
