Based on an article by Katya Staykova in today?s issue of the Maritsa newspaper
The Hebros Bus Company released its first bus, whose fuel is compressed natural methane. Thus the Plovdiv transport company became the second in the country after the Sofia transport company, to re-equip its buses to use on mixed terms diesel or methane.The ratio between the two kinds of fuel is 35% diesel to 65% methane, explained to the Maritsa newspaper Vesselin Doshkov, Manager of Hebros Bus Company. Until Christmas, 50 of the altogether 120 vehicles will be reequipped, while for the next year the number will go up to 100. That re-equipment became possible only after the construction of a methane gas-station.The methane equipment for a single bus costs 6000 leva, which makes it an altogether 280 ? 300000 leva investment for the re-equipment of the 50 buses, calculates Eng. Doshkov. Money comes primarily from self-funding, since there was no technological time to look for any financial help from various European programs. According to preliminary analyses, the investment will be paid off in a year. The price of a kilo of compressed natural methane is 0.81 leva, which makes it almost twice less expensive than the diesel. Therefore, lifting the excise duty on the fuel in the beginning of next year will not significantly affect people using the re-equipped buses, is Eng.Doshkov?s prognosis.