From tomorrow, Monday, 12th December, SMART Automobiles, which
operates SMART Cab, will take delivery of 30 units of the
bi-fuel Mercedes Benz E200NGT. These vehicles will run on
Compressed Natural Gas and/or Petrol. another 70+ units will be
introduced by the end of December 2005.
These 30 units are registered on 08/12/2005, introduced on
12/12/2005, and their lifespan will expire on 07/12/2013. They will
occupy the registration number ranges of SHB9007S to
SHB9036H.
Next batch to be registered will be on 19th December 2005 (20
units)
3rd batch will be registered on the 22nd December 2005 (20
units)
4th batch are registered on 28th December 2005 (23 units)
Due to a higher rental of $110 per day as compared to
regular Toyota Crowns, the bi-fuel taxis will charge a flagdown
rate of $3.00*. The $110 rental is about $16 less than
Comfort's Maxi Cab vehicle rental.
This move came with the attractive incentive of tax rebates. The
bi-fuel vehicles, emits 20% less Carbon Dioxide without a
compromise on performance.
Before this move, SMART Automobiles already has one bi-fuel
Mercedes E180 on the roads, and this latest move is a result of
positive feedback of the trial unit.
And so, what is so good about these bi-fuel Mercedes Benz, which
demands a $3.00 flagdown? Not only does it gives a more
comgfortable and quiter ride for passengers, it also has plush
interiors, television screens mounted on seat backs, showing "live"
TV programmes, like TV Mobile. The regular SMART Toyota Crowns,
also has TV screens on the seat backs.
The only inconvenience is the re-fuelling process. The only CNG
filling station is in Jurong Island, a restricted area, after the
BP CNG station in upper East Coast Road cease operations a few
years ago. There are plans to built 2 CNG more refuelling stations,
at a cost of S$2 million each.
CNG currently retails at 65 cents for the equilivant of 1 litre of
petrol (retail cost $1.67 currently, $1.07 for diesel). cost
breakdown is roughly 7cents/ km (bi-fuel) vs 11cents for diesel
powered.
Cabbies are set to save $20,000 from maintaince and fuel
costs.
Click here to read about another report on CNG/ bi-fuel
taxis.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=156143
And this report about a failed CNG attempt by Toyota.
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=151981
*Another vehicle used by SMART, the Skoda Superbs, also has a
flagdown rate of $3.00.
