November 7, 2024. As part of the commitment to energy transformation and sustainable mobility, a study was presented with the results of the first phase of the Pilot Plan, led by the company Mi Bus, which incorporates buses that run on natural gas for vehicles (NGV) in the Panamanian public transport fleet.
The Pilot Plan, launched in 2023, was the result of a strategic alliance between Colón LNG Marketing (CLM), a joint venture between AES and TotalEnergies, and MiBus. Its objective is to evaluate the performance and viability of NGV in mass public transport in Panama as a more environmentally friendly fuel alternative, which reduces carbon emissions, noise and pollution.
For the execution of this project, two Hyundai buses with NGV technology were acquired, which capture data in real time, using GPS. In addition, a filling station was built at the Mi Bus Ojo de Agua Operations Center, allowing for a more effective implementation of the initiative and collecting key information on the impact and potential of natural gas in public transportation.
In order to evaluate the operational, economic and environmental feasibility of this technology, a strategic alliance was established with the Technological University of Panama (UTP).
In this regard, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, through the MeTCAp Laboratory Directorate, presented the study entitled “Emissions estimation model applicable to urban transport vehicles in Panama City,” which – through a mathematical model – compared the emissions of buses that operated with NGV versus their diesel equivalents.
The study, which analyzed the behavior of vehicles operating for almost 10 months on various routes in Panama City, each for a period of 2 weeks, highlighted the potential of natural gas to reduce carbon emissions. Among the findings, it was shown that vehicles with identical capacities and geometric characteristics, and traveling the same routes, when operating with NGV, their estimated greenhouse gas emissions, measured in tons of CO2, were 20% lower than those for a similar vehicle operated with diesel. Likewise, a decrease in the level of noise and other atmospheric pollutants such as particulate matter (MP10 and MP2.5) was evident.
