After a long period of preparation, three bus routes using CNG fuel are eligible for putting into operation next month, Deputy Director of Hanoi Center for Urban Transport Management and Control Thai Ho Phuong said.
A bus using CNG fuel have been used in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: internet
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CNG-fueled bus route No.1 (from My Dinh bus station to Son Tay bus station) and CNG bus No.3 (from the Central Tropical Hospital 2 to Times City) will hit the road from August 1; CNG bus route No.2 (from Yen Nghia bus station to Dang Xa urban area) will become operational from August 9.
Route No.1 will connect My Dinh - Pham Hung - Me Tri - Chau Van Liem - Thang Long highway - Phuong Cua - provincial road 421B - provincial road 420 - provincial road 419 - highway 32 - Thong pagoda (Son Tay) - Son Tay bus station and vice versa. The operating time is from 5:00am to 8:30pm, 15 - 20 minutes per turn, covering a distance of 42.3 km, ticket price is VND9,000 (US$0.39) per turn.
Route No.2 will run through Yen Nghia - Quang Trung (Ha Dong) - Le Trong Tan (Ha Dong) - Phuc La, Van Phu - Bridge - Thanh Liet - Cau Dau - Nghiem Xuan Yiem - Nguyen Huu Tho - Gia Phong - Giap Bat - Giai Phong - Kim Dong - Tan Mai - Tam Trinh - Minh Khai - Vinh Tuy - Dam Quang Trung - Chu Huy Man - Tran Danh Tuyen - Sai Dong - Nguyen Duc Thuan - Dang Xa urban area and vice versa. Operating time is from 5:00am – 21:00pm, 15 - 20 minutes per turn, ticket price is VND9,000 (US$0.39) per turn, the distance is 35.65 km.
Route No.3 has the route as follows: the Central Tropical Hospital 2 - Bac Thang Long industrial park - Hoang Sa - Phuong Trach - Nhat Tan Bridge - Vo Chi Cong - Buoi - Doi Can - Lieu Giai - Kim Ma - Nguyen Thai Hoc - Le Duan - Tran Hung Dao - Ba Trieu - Tran Khat Chan - Vo Thi Sau - Thanh Nhan - Kim Nguu - Mai Dong - Minh Khai - Times City and vice versa. Operating time is from 5:00am – 21:00pm, 15 - 20 minutes per turn, ticket price is VND8,000 (US$0.34) per turn, the distance is 29.55 km.
Thai Ho Phuong added that CNG is a natural gas with major component of methane (CH4), derived from natural gas deposits, processed and compressed at high pressure for storage.
Due to the absence of benzene and aromatic hydrocarbons, the gas does not emit dust, releases only a little of toxic gas (SO2, NO2, CO, etc.). Therefore, CNG does not adversely affect humans’ health and the environment, Phuong said.
In addition, CNG is compressed air, thus, in the process of transportation, if an accident take place, the escaped CNG will not be harmful to the environment as some types of gasoline, oil or other liquid fuel, Phuong added.
CNG has some other advantages, such as the price is 10% - 30% cheaper than other types of fuel. Compared with FO, DO and LPG, using CNG is 10-15% cheaper for production and 30-40% cheaper for transportation. Therefore, using this clean fuel will help to reduce fuel costs, Phuong stressed.
Phuong cited scientific calculations as saying that the price of 1 ton of CNG is about US$318, only equal to 53.5% of gasoline price, 42% of oil price. Each CNG-fueled bus will save US$8,308 in fuel costs per year compared to diesel, Phuong affirmed.
