Natural gas-powered PSVs coming

Some Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) on the island will soon be fuelled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael said a CNG transition project for PSVs is in the works, through a partnership between his organisation and the L&N Company.

The vehicles will be converted to use natural gas instead of diesel. 

“We have started discussions with L&N as it relates to looking at a pilot project where we will be introducing this new compressed natural gas vehicle. We are going to be partnering with a number of organisations to ensure that we as public service vehicles are able to maximise on the [amount] of mileage that we have around Barbados,” he told the media during a tour of the company’s plant on Friday.

“When we look at it, between our 800 public service vehicles we are spending close to $50 million a year and we would basically like to reduce that because, as you recognise, some routes like Bush Hall, Eden Lodge, and the Ivy . . . are routes that basically do not have a lot of persons on it.

“….With the partnership, we will see the reduction in the fuel costs [and] the operators will be able to [extend] their mileage,” Raphael added.

Norman Edwards, Managing Director of L&N which has specialised in PSV modifications in Barbados for over two decades, said transitioning to cleaner sources of fuel was a move for the better.

“It’s always a good thing when you are moving [to] get a cleaner fuel…. The drive is to go a little cleaner with electric at some point, but this is all in the process of getting there,” he said.
(SB)