Kladno, a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, has started 2014 with the addition of 12 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses being commissioned by ČSAD MHD Kladno, the public transport bus service, reports CNG4you. Six SOR 10.5m buses join the fleet in January and six Iveco 12.5m buses will be delivered in February, at a total cost of CZK 52 million (USD 2.56m). All buses are wheel-chair accessible low-floor design.
The bus company began testing CNG buses in 2010 and subsequently built a refueling station and procured more CNG buses. The 12 new buses bring the total natural gas-powered fleet to 26, with the goal reportedly being to increase this number to 60, equivalent to one third of the fleet.
The new acquisitions were 40% subsidized by the government and lobbying efforts are being directed toward the provision of subsidies for future CNG buses, vital given Kladno is classified as one of the most air-polluted cities in the Czech republic.
