COMO Connect welcomes CNG vehicles to city bus fleet

Customers may have noticed a couple new buses driving around Columbia this week, but what they can't see is the fuel and emission savings. After acquiring two natural gas powered 40' buses in February of this year, the city's public bus system now boasts a total of 7 compressed natural gas vehicles on its fleet, including the two 40' Gillig Buses, two MV-1 Para-Transit vans, and three Para-Transit buses.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is a great way to reduce fuel costs and make city fleet vehicles more environmentally friendly and less costly to maintain. Vehicles save on fuel costs by using natural gas over petroleum products, adding up to almost a 50% savings at the pump. The natural gas also burns much cleaner than petroleum based products, producing 20-30% less greenhouse gas emissions and 95% less tailpipe emissions than gasoline, making Columbia's air and pollution rates much more earth-friendly. The new CNG vehicles also have much lower maintenance for city staff because the natural gas extends the life of spark plugs, pipes and mufflers, as well as allowing longer intervals between oil changes.

COMO Connect is excited to be able to take advantage of the new CNG technology for the buses as a way to save money and be more environmentally responsible. The City now has a total of 37 CNG vehicles in operation or on order for various vehicle fleets. The new city vehicles, as well as natural gas fleets from all over Columbia and across Missouri, can take advantage of the new CNG station that was installed along 63 Highway in north Columbia last year. All of the new natural gas vehicles are marked with a "CNG Powered Vehicle" sticker.