The CNG buses, which will be tested for three months, are low-floor vehicles, equipped with accessibility for people with disabilities and have EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicles) technology. It is the first time the EPTM has incorporated buses powered by natural gas to its fleet.
“This is very important to us because the public transport NGVs have 100% accessibility, are environmentally friendly and are also plotted with awareness campaigns,” a representative from the Transport Department of the Government of the Mendoza Province toldNGVJournal.com.
According to the speech delivered by the Secretary of Transportation Diego Martinez Palau during the presentation of the CNG buses, the future acquisition of these vehicles will depend on the final decision to be made by the Government after the trials with buses, which will take into consideration the passengers’ feedback. Each NGV costs 1.2 million pesos (equivalent to approximately USD 190,000) and is domestically manufactured. “These buses will join the fleet where the trolley service is not temporarily available,” the official added.
In addition to the natural gas fueled vehicles, the EPTM has also launched other seven buses (not CNG powered), also delivered by Materfer, which will cover the route Pedro Molina-Unimev.