There is a real national dynamic and in the Hauts-de-France around the NGVs," says Frédéric Delormel, GRDF. "In 2019, we are already at 157 CNG refueling points, 40 more than last year. We want to be 250 in 2020, " he says. The transport companies have also already expressed their keen interest in natural gas vehicles
Perpignan
French operator Vectalia in partnership with GRDF has launched a CNG bus operational test. This trial could lead to the conversion of part of the Perpignan Méditerranée Métropole fleet to nartural gas.
The first bus has been provided by Iveco, it was set up on line 6 of the Sankéo network. Organized from 22 to 27 November in partnership with GRDF, this experience is part of the new regulations that require communities to choose eco-friendly buses when renewing their fleets.
Béziers
In total, ten million euros were invested by the city of Béziers for the acquisition of these environmentally friendly buses. Supplied by MAN, the 33 gas buses are accompanied by the deployment of a natural gas refueling station. Located on the site of Vectalia Béziers Méditerranée, it was built at the Montpellier startup Seven.
By 2021, a further 15 vehicles will be operating on the Béziers Méditerranée network, the objective of which is to convert all buses in the network to natural gas.
Verdun
In search of alternative solutions to diesel, the TIV (Transport Intercommunal Verdunois) is running tests since the beginning of November on a bus running on natural gas.
Provided by Iveco, this natural gas bus is being tested under real conditions of use since November. Organized until the end of the month, this trial should allow the TIV network to evaluate the performance of the CNG technology, refueling times but also to collect the opinions of drivers and users.
"We try gas for two reasons. One, it's a proven technology, two because the Grand Est region is the first producer region in France of GNV "summarizes Jean-Baptiste Dupont, head of the TIV network
Laon
Last Friday morning, the Commune and the Transport Company of the Pays de Laon signed with Gaz Réseau Distribution France (GRDF) a partnership agreement for the installation of a mobile CNG station on the site of Urban Transport Laonnois. It will allow to put in circulation, starting in January, a first bus operating on CNG for the transport network of Laon. A second CNG bus is expected in the fall of 2020 and the purchase of a third is already under consideration. This facility is part of a broader program of development of NGV from anaerobic digestion on the territory.
