For a trial period a demonstration vehicle using natural gas will operate in different routes of urban transportation in Hermosillo, Sonora, in order to consider the benefits if the implementation of these buses is approved, said Luis Fernando Iribe Murrieta, director of Transport of Sonora.

He added that the renewal of public transportation is part of the State Development Plan 2016-2021, presented by Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano and currently underway. This effort also involves operators who aim at providing quality service with decent vehicles, as users have demanded for years.

Representing transport companies and operator providing the service in the city, José Luis Gerardo Moreno, president of the Association of Urban Transportation of Hermosillo, explained that they will test the fuel performance of this prototype to compare and make a financial and feasibility scheme. He added that the use of this bus could represent a savings of 40% in fuel costs.

Moreover, Iribe Murrieta said if the use of these buses is approved, they will not only offer savings for operators, but also CNG will help protect the environment, as this represents less greenhouse gas emissions, improving local community’s health. “The benefit to users obviously will be the modernization of transportation; it will be more comfortable and with higher quality service, which is what we are looking for,” he said.

In addition, he explained that if operational results are positive, about 176 million pesos will be invested in 50 vehicles, with a joint venture between Federal Government and State Government, with support of up to 10%, and dealers would pay the remaining 90%.

Source: Government of Sonora