Germany, Berlin

Save money and environment

Natural gas buses are more economical than diesel buses, according to an investigation carried out by economic consulting firm WIBERA. In addition to the undoubted environmental benefits, natural gas buses can also score points with economic benefits. The study showed that in a realistic full cost comparison natural gas buses are more than 3,000 euros per year cheaper than diesel buses.

WIBERA AG has reported on low-floor buses of the N Neoplan 4521 type, and compared them with diesel buses over a year. The total cost consideration at an annual mileage of 70,000 kilometers per bus revealed that vehicles with diesel engines are cheaper to buy but more expensive to maintain, with a bottom line strongly favouring natural gas buses.

Given the increasing number of environmental zones in major cities from 2010 and the existing strict limits on nitrogen oxides WIBERA expects to see an increase in investment in gas pwoered buses, including renewable biogas. "Even the most modern diesel buses are already polluting beyond the Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle (EEV) standard, noting the Euro 5 standard goes even further", said Rainer B. Giesel, CEO of the information hub natural gas vehicles Berlin. According to the investigation results natural gas buses emit approximately 42 percent less nitrogen oxides (NOx) than comparable diesel buses.

"Against the background of the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas buses in public transport, it is difficult to understand that why Berlin Transport companies chosen an subcontractors do not use of natural gas buses," said Giesel.