Spain: City of Jerez bets on sustainability with new CNG buses

The Mayor of Jerez Mamen Sánchez, together with the Deputy Mayor for Sustainability, Participation and Mobility José Antonio Díaz, announced the approval, by the Board of Directors of Comujesa (Municipal Corporation of Jerez), of an agreement to operate 14 natural gas buses by renting. “We lay the foundations for a more sustainable city model that will substantially improve the quality of this basic and essential service for citizens and a considerable saving in maintenance costs,” said Sánchez.

“The agreement had the support of all groups and helps us fulfill our firm commitment to start as soon as possible the renewal of a fleet of buses that needs to be replaced, both because of the age of the vehicles (with an average of 14 years old, and with 37 units over 16 years old) and because of the high maintenance and fuel costs that it currently entails,” said the mayor. As for deadlines, the government’s forecast is that buses may be operating by mid-2018.

The contract with the awarded company will last ten years and the delivery period of the vehicles will be a maximum of 10 months, starting from the formalization of the deal. In addition to these 14 buses, the city will deploy another 10 vehicles with EDUSI (Sustainable Urban Development) funds. There will be 24 new buses that will replace the current ones progressively and will mean the renewal of practically half of the current fleet. All buses will run on CNG.

Sánchez added that the introduction of the 14 vehicles will mean substantial savings of up to 35% over current fuel consumption. “We are initiating a transition towards a more sustainable and livable city model that will contribute to improving air quality and reducing pollution levels, including a more comfortable and efficient urban transportation service,” she added.

https://www.ngvjournal.com/spain-city-of-jerez-bets-on-sustainability-with-new-cng-buses/