November 12, 2023. Companhia Paraibana de Gás (PBGás) and global heavy vehicle manufacturers present new technology to use compressed natural gas (CNG) to replace diesel. At a symposium held in João Pessoa, experts discussed the use of natural gas in buses and trucks, the growth of this market and the necessary infrastructure of refueling stations in Brazil and the state of Paraíba to offer autonomy to these vehicles.
The General Director of PBGás, Jailson Galvão, highlighted the importance of the joint initiative with manufacturers and market agents and academia in the search for new technologies for the use of natural gas in the energy transition and systems with lower carbon emissions and pollutants. He explained that natural gas trucks offer a 20% reduction in CO² and up to 90% in nitrogen dioxide compared to diesel. “We hope that alliances will emerge from this first symposium so that we can have CNG trucks and buses circulating in Paraíba.”
The Manager of the Industrial and Automotive Market of PBGás, Fabiola Gomes, also presented plans for the sector in the state, such as the road corridor for light and heavy gas-powered vehicles with adaptation to supply trucks and buses that require a high-flow nozzle. In Paraíba there are 37 CNG stations that can also be adapted to refuel cargo vehicles.
“Scania’s idea is to bring another sustainable vehicle alternative to its customers, supplying natural gas trucks since 2019,” explained Adriano Brito, Scania Solutions Sales Manager, who highlighted that state governments and gas companies have a fundamental role in the creation of an infrastructure of stations that enable a vehicle to circulate in all regions of the country.
In his presentation, Iveco’s Product Development Manager, Fábio Nicora, presented the portfolio of gas trucks and buses launched in November last year. “Today we have trucks with a range of up to 550 kilometers that use gas/biomethane and the engines maintain the same power as those that run on diesel. We are committed to this sustainable technology on the path to decarbonization and we believe that our customers will too.”
During the program, the Manager of the BNB, André Emerick, presented the financing lines of the Banco do Nordeste and the UFPB professor, Benilton Nascimento, spoke about the project to convert diesel engines to the use of natural gas, carried out in the mechanical engineering laboratory.
