The Community of Madrid continues to renew the bus fleet of the Regional Transport Consortium of Madrid with new, more sustainable vehicles, powered by alternative fuels. The Minister of Transport, Mobility and Infrastructure Ángel Garrido presented 13 new Scania CNG buses at Ruiz Group’s (one of the dealerships that is adding the vehicles) filling station in Leganés. The natural gas compression plant, opened in 2010, services 128 buses of Ruiz and Empresa Martin’s fleets and has the capacity to refuel up to 21 vehicles per hour.
These buses, which involved an investment of 3.7 million euros, will be added to the routes 352, which links Madrid with Fuentidueña and Tarancón, (three vehicles) and 484, which links Madrid with Leganés (the remaining 10 units). They will reduce CO2 emissions by 20% and particles and NOx emissions by 85% compared to those that use diesel. In addition, they will cut noise by 50% compared to what a conventional bus generates.
“These new buses provide a fundamental service such as facilitating mobility while continuing to meet the responsibility for sustainability. And they not only reduce pollutant emissions, but also have better security systems, are accessible like our entire fleet and have services that we consider essential today, from Wi-Fi to USB chargers,” Garrido reported.
At present, the intercity bus fleet of the Regional Transport Consortium, consisting of 2,057 vehicles, has 27% of buses powered by alternative fuels, such as natural gas and electric hybrids.
Since the beginning of this administration, 180 intercity buses have already been renewed, with an investment of 49.5 million euros. It is expected that 150 more vehicles will be renewed this year, with a disbursement of 41.2 million euros. All buses will have the most demanding European standard (Euro VI) and at least 20% of the fleet will be powered by alternative fuels.
To analyze this extremely positive scenario for natural gas and sustainable public transport, and evaluate the latest in alternative fuel technologies for clean mobility, AltFuels Iberia 2020 will be held on 5-9 October at IFEMA Trade Fair Center in Madrid. For more information, please contact info@altfuelsiberia.com.
Source: Community of Madrid
