That is to say, 18.22% of national fleet, which is composed by 1,082,984 vehicles, is fueled by compressed natural gas. Cochabamba and Santa Cruz gather almost 70 percent of the converted vehicles, mainly due to the fact that in years prior to the free conversion program launching, those area’s drivers opted to make the change “on their own,” the Executing Agency for CNG Conversion Program (EEC-GNV) director Hernán Vega told La Razón newspaper.
Between October 2010 and August 2012, the free conversion plan for public transport vehicles amounted to 32,762 units. From January to August this year, there were 15,322 vehicles fitted, but this figure is expected to rise to 34,080 over the next months.
According to the Supreme Decree 675, the official conversion program covers the free service to: firstly, the public sector; secondly, the state-owned vehicles; and, finally, the private fleet.
Furthermore, as part of the upcoming opening of a CNG refueling station in the town of Puerto Quijarro (Santa Cruz Department), the EEC-GNV agreed last week that 1,700 public transport vehicles from Puerto Suarez and Puerto Quijarro will get free access to the CNG conversion program.
