“The performance of this truck is equal to a diesel one. It is even faster and quieter. It is much softer than a diesel. Moreover, the economy generated is impressive,” said the driver of the VW 17-250, which works only on compressed natural gas.
Once in the province of Santa Fe, other eleven NGVs joined the truck, including three Kangoos, two Partners, a Sprinter, a Caddy, a 4×4 Sportage and three cars: a VW Vento, a Renault Symbol and a Ford Fiesta. The start of the entire convoy was held at the iconic “National Flag Memorial” in the city of Rosario on Wednesday morning, where members of the local press came to interview the main figures of this initiative.
“Argentina is a leader in the industry, we have the technology to convert from diesel to CNG and generate economy in the transportation of freight and passengers, and we also have fast fueling infrastructure to serve this type of vehicles. This a ground-breaking experience that is leading us to a sustainable transportation, with lower costs, less pollution and a full utilization of gas,” said Fausto Maranca, president of CAGNC, before leaving to Buenos Aires.
During the journey to Argentina’s capital, the 12 vehicles stopped at Gas Natural Fenosa filling station, located on 82 km of Route 6, in the town of Los Cardales, where the “Inauguration of the Blue Corridor” was carried out. It was attended by Gas Natural Fenosa authorities and Guillermo Merediz, Director of Promotion for Competivity, Innovation and Services, Ministry of Prodution of Buenos Aires Province. “We know it is an area with many possibilities and potential, we are working on this and the subject of biogas,” said the official to NGVJournal.
In Buenos Aires, the convoy toured the city’s main avenues, and arrived on Wednesday afternoon at La Rural trade fair, where the V ExpoGNC 2011 is being held, proving the good performance of natural gas for vehicles on roads and that it is the ideal replacement for diesel in heavy and medium duty transport over long distances due to the large savings, environmental care and excellent technical performance.
“The vehicle’s performance is brilliant, it does not lose power. We use 5th generation technology. It is important the user will not notice the difference in this type of vehicle,” said Guillermo Pasquali, from PVR, and driver of the Kia Sportage 4×4 that took part of the Blue Corridor experience. He added that this initiative benefits the integration of Latin America.
Furthermore, president of Esigas, Mendoza’s company that manufactured the VW 17-250 truck engine, stressed the importance to see CNG heavy-duty transport in the streets. “The only way that a carrier that uses diesel changes his mind is seeing one, two, three and ten times a truck running on methane,” he said.
In addition to the CAGNC, the Blue Corridor was launched in collaboration with carmakers such as Kia, gas distributors such as Gas Natural Fenosa and Litoral Gas, and NGV companies like Esigas, Kioshi, GNC Galileo, Pelmag, PVR, Diviani, among others.
