Ponta Grossa Starts Testing a Bus Powered by CNG

(Compagas (Google Translation)) Vehicle integrates municipal fleet from 8/1. Tests carried out previously prove competitiveness and lower emissions of pollutants in operations -- Compagas, together with the manufacturer Scania, and in partnership with the City Hall of Ponta Grossa, presented this Monday (7/31) the 100% natural gas bus that will integrate public transport in the municipality for the next 30 days. The action is part of the project linked to sustainable urban mobility, which has been developed in the main cities of Paraná, and which aims to certify efficiency indicators, in particular, the reduction in pollutant emissions in vehicle use and the contribution to sustainability goals.

The Mayor of Ponta Grossa, Elizabeth Silveira Schmidt, accompanied the launch and highlighted the importance of the project for the municipality. “Carrying out these tests is part of the City Hall's efforts to offer an increasingly better transport system for the population. Thanks in advance to Compagas and Scania, who brought this bus, which can transport up to 90 people, is air-conditioned and uses sustainable fuel, which is great for the environment. I am sure that the population will really like this technology and all the innovations that are included in this vehicle”, commented the mayor.

The action in Ponta Grossa is the fourth carried out by the project coordinated by Compagas and Scania. The first demonstrations were held in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba, with the Government of Paraná, and in the capital, with the Municipality of Curitiba. During the entire month of June, the same vehicle ran in Londrina, being fueled with biomethane. In the three locations, the viability of using the gas vehicle on complex and extensive lines was demonstrated, guaranteeing autonomy and the lowest emission of pollution into the atmosphere.

The CEO of Compagas, Rafael Lamastra Jr., points out that with the first tests it was possible to confirm the numbers presented by the manufacturer and to demonstrate in practice the efficiency of the vehicle. “In Curitiba, the competitiveness of CNG compared to diesel was greater, ensuring a reduction in operating costs by around 10%, while the emission of pollutants was 20% lower. That is, more economy and sustainability for urban transport, ”he says. Lamastra also points out that these results were obtained with only one bus on the route and that a concentrated operation with more vehicles can guarantee even more advantages to the local economy. “Gas public transport vehicles are a reality in the main cities of the world, and we need to apply this technology in our State, substituting diesel vehicles for gas models,

The demo bus will run on different lines starting August 1st. The goal is for it to pass through the main thoroughfares of Ponta Grossa and serve a larger number of people. The 100% gas vehicle will join the fleet of Viação Campos Gerais (VCG) and will operate from Monday to Saturday, between the schedules of the conventional buses that pass through the Nova Russia, Uvaranas, Central and Oficinas terminals. “VCG considers of fundamental importance those initiatives that consider alternative fuels, as is the case of this gas vehicle. From this test we will be able to evaluate the performance and the performance to analyze the feasibility of implementation”, highlights the director of Institutional Relations of VCG, Rodrigo Venske

Less polluting – Natural gas, even though it is of fossil origin, is less polluting than liquid fuels due to its cleaner burning, with less soot and less generation of carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main greenhouse gases ( GHG). Compared to diesel, vehicles running on natural gas can emit up to 20% less CO2, since the reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) is almost 90% and particulate matter (very fine particles of solid or liquid pollutants) reaches 85%. This reduction in pollutants has a direct impact on the health of the population, with a lower rate of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases caused by these gases.

“With our demonstrations, we are proving the viability of 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 our mission of leading the transition to a more sustainable passenger transport system. We are sure that in Ponta Grossa we will be successful in showing all the benefits of the gas model for this city of potential size and vision of the future and smart development”, says Celso Mendonça, Mobility Solutions Sales Manager at Scania Commercial Operations Brazil.

ABOUT THE BUS – The model manufactured by Scania is the padron K 280, with 14 meters in length and capacity for 86 passengers. The bus is equipped with an elevator for accessibility and interior space for wheelchair users. The K 280 4×2 model has a 280 horsepower engine. Its engine is Otto Cycle (the same concept as cars) and runs 100% on gas and biomethane, or a mixture of both. It is not converted from diesel to gas, has a factory warranty, reliable and safe technology, consistent performance and diesel-like strength, and is quieter. Right now, it is ideal for the 'here and now', as it fits into the three sustainable pillars: economic, social and environmental. For the test bus, eight gas cylinders were installed on the front side with a range of 300 km.

Security is total in case of accidents or explosion. Cylinders and valves are certified by Inmetro (in compliance with the law). There are three valves (flow, pressure and temperature) that release the gas in case of anomaly in one of these three aspects. The cylinders are extremely robust (the material is from missile warheads). In case of fire or crash, the gas is released into the atmosphere and dissolves without danger of explosion, unlike a similar vehicle fueled by diesel, which is more dangerous, as the liquid remains on the ground or can spread along the bodywork.

“We are already in the fourth demonstration of the gas bus in Paraná, three of them in the Cotrasa service region and once again putting this vehicle on the streets to prove its viability and sustainability in practice is very important. This time in Ponta Grossa, the city with the fourth largest GDP in the state. Bringing a solution like this to the Campos Gerais region strengthens urban mobility and the commitment to the environment,” says Cristiano Locatelli, director of Cotrasa, the Scania House that serves the region. READ MORE