The Automotive Dealers Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ADATT) has added its voices to the debate on the future of CNG, saying that it is tenable and pertinent to the country’s automotive market, reported local newspaper Guardian.
“CNG is extremely viable and relevant in Trinidad and Tobago,” said President of the ADATT Jerome Borde. “This country is a leader in natural gas production, transportation and downstream uses. It makes total sense to leverage our rich natural gas history and use it as a fuel for vehicles.”
Borde believes that the NGC CNG (subsidiary of the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago) and several other stakeholders have been down some extremely good work in building an NGV industry. According to the NGC CNG President Curtis Mohammed, the CNG convergence business has generated $43 million.
President of the ADATT noted: “While we may focus on OEM CNG vehicles, most of the NGVs on the road are converted internal combustion vehicles, which gives those owners a much more affordable fuel and operating cost.” The NGV industry also encompasses other areas which create employment, including the scores of technicians at converters.
Moreover, Borde said that Classic Motors introduced the Honda City CNG sedan in March 2015 and “the vehicle has done well for us.” “Its performance and the feedback from customers is excellent and we are happy to have been pioneers, since this was the first OEM CNG sedan in Trinidad and Tobago,” he stated and added that Ansa Motors have also sourced OEM CNG buses and a heavy-duty truck.
According to Borde, there are some 15 OEM CNG brands of vehicles in the country, “which is good progress from zero models in 2014.” He estimates that since 2014 the OEM NGVs across all market segments, including buses, commercial vans and sedans, comprise around 3,000 units, and that the figure is growing at an increasing rate as the drivers are realizing the savings and returns attached to CNG.
