Through an alliance between Coflonorte Libertadores, Flota Sugamuxi, Autoboy, Ruta INnova, Ecopetrol, Vanti, Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI), Scania and Naturgás, the first CNG bus for long distance public transportation was launched in the Department of Boyacá. With this addition, Coflonorte Libertadores becomes the first transport company in the center of the country to put into operation this kind of vehicle powered exclusively by natural gas, which will be covering the Sogamoso – Bogotá route.
“In Boyacá the best initiatives grow hand in hand with our businessmen. From now on, the first natural gas intercity service bus from the Boyacá company Coflonorte begins to circulate on our roads. It is a victory for the environment: it uses sustainable technology and generates fewer polluting emissions,” said the Governor of Boyacá Ramiro Barragán Adame.
The vehicle is a Scania K320 IB 4×2 Euro 6 bus, with Opticruise automatic transmission, brake retarder, ABS, dedicated natural gas engine of 9,300 cubic centimeters, 1,500 Nm- and 320 horsepower. It has capacity for 42 passengers and has three CNG storage tanks that give it a range of 500 to 700 kilometers. In addition, it has the ECO10000 code, which identifies it as an environmentally friendly vehicle.
The bus will be under the control and operation of Fundación Innova, from the Coflonorte Libertadores group, which has a vision of inclusion and work programs for women and mothers who are heads of households, which is why the first driver of the bus is a woman.
John Ladino, Mobility Director of Vanti, explained that they will supply the natural gas that will power Scania state-of-the-art engine, allowing to reduce the emission of particulate matter by 98% and the emission of CO2 in almost 50%. Added to this, the use of this type of fuel generates an efficient cost because it allows carriers to be more profitable in passenger transportation.
“This is the second intercity dedicated natural gas bus that exists in Colombia: one is on the coast, in Expreso Brasilia, and this one is in Grupo Libertadores,” added Vanti’s Vice President of Large Clients, John Jairo Contreras Moncada.
For the best coverage of the route between Boyacá and Bogotá, Vanti has the proposal to build a CNG service station in the Tunja Transport Terminal and another in Sogamoso.
Photo: Governor Ramiro Barragán Adame
