Located in southern Minas Gerais, the city has successfully tested a school van running on CNG and thus decided to operate the municipal fleet with this alternative energy. Gasmig president Luis França visited the town to officially award Mayor Rodrigo Lopes a bonus for 10,800 m³ of free fuel through the “I run with gas” program. The ceremony took place on June 5 at Andradas City Hall.
It is expected that the natural gas conversion of the fleet allow annual savings of around R$ 100 billion, according to data reported by the city government in reference to a fleet of 18 vehicles.
The rewards involve 600 m³ for each vehicle switched to CNG. “In financial terms, this benefit is more than R$ 2,000, which allows the recovery of half of the amount invested in the vehicle conversion. The 10,800 m³ granted to the City of Andradas will be enough for the vehicles to circulate approximately 86,400 kilometers,” said CNG manager of Gasmig Welder Souza.
Before Andradas chooses to convert its fleet, a pilot project was carried out to demonstrate the benefits of using natural gas. For this, Gasmig, the CNG station of Santa Barbara and equipment manufacturers set up an agreement with the City, which received the free conversion of one of its vehicles with fifth-generation technology and CNG to run for at least 90 days.
“We are adopting this strategy pilot project that brings together the entire chain of NGV market, so that potential users can access the fuel benefits and realize how kits technology has evolved, leaving behind the myth that vehicles lose power or are damaged by this procedure,” Welder said.
Source: Gas Company of Minas Gerais (Gasmig).
