Abstract

MANTILLA, JUAN et al. COSTS PROJECTION FOR A NATURAL GAS ARTICULATED BUS TO BE USED IN COLOMBIA ’S MASSIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. Dyna rev.fac.nac.minas [online]. 2009, vol.76, n.157, pp.61-70. ISSN 0012-7353.

This paper shows the results for the evaluation of the performance of an articulated bus prototype fueled with compressed natural gas (CNG). The results will be used to establish the technical viability of the fleet implementation in the massive transport systems of the biggest Colombian cities. In order to carry out the evaluation, some SAE recommended practices were modified to set with this kind of bus. The objective of the present work is to show the results of the comparative study of costs between two articulated buses that operate with different fuels: compressed natural gas (CNG) and diesel. The results will be used to establish the economic viability of fleet implementation in the massive transport systems of the biggest Colombian cities. The projection was made following the operation and maintenance recommendations given by the buses manufacturers, a life expectancy of 10 years, a total of 6250 km of road trip by month and two different scenarios for fuel price evolution. Three important costs were considered: engine and indispensable, fuel and preventive maintenance. The capital costs and fixed costs (like employee salaries, parking, taxes, and insurances) were assumed to be equal for the two types of buses. The results shows that the operation and maintenance costs have a similar behavior between both technologies, although preventive maintenance costs are smaller for the bus fueled with natural gas, situation that changes when the engine and indispensable costs are reviewed. Nevertheless it is important to write down that the greater influence on the operation and maintenance costs falls into the time behavior of the fuel price.

Keywords : Articulated bus; alternative fuel; maintenance costs; operation costs; compressed natural gas.

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