Converting buses to run on liquefied petroleum gas

Summary

Existing buses in the public transport fleet were converted to run on cleaner fuel as part of the city’s environmental efforts.

Implementing sustainable mobility

At the time of measure implementation, old, heavily polluting buses still made up the majority of Ploiesti’s public transport fleet. These old Romanian-built buses (produced by a factory then in the process of liquidation) generated huge maintenance and repair costs and were very labour intensive to operate.

Preliminary tests identified liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a suitable alternative fuel:

• LPG use would mean modern maintenance facilities for the clean vehicles;
• there was widespread public acceptance of LPG use; and
• LPG is generally available in Romania.

It was therefore decided to convert 25 buses (standard and articulated) to run on LPG as a pilot project.  

Progress

Activities included:

• refurbishing buses to be converted to LPG;
• acquiring conversion equipment;
• ensuring the necessary fuelling infrastructure;
• converting 12 buses in the first project stage; and
• converting 13 buses in the second project stage.  

Outcomes

Economically speaking, there was only a slight decrease in fuel costs, since, even though LPG is cheaper than diesel, the consumption of LPG buses is almost double that of diesel buses (56 litres LPG /100 km compared to 31 litres diesel/100 km). Questions were also raised about the long-term robustness of retrofitted older buses as maintenance costs continued to be high. However, the conversion was seen as a good short-term move and public reaction to the overall refurbishment was very positive.

Pollution levels were lowered and the quality of public transport services rose as the buses were totally modernised before conversion.