Indonesian origin taxi company, SMART Automobile is taking a
gamble of gas powered/ Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) taxis, with
help from Natl Env Agency (NEA)
The 2 year old taxi operator has secured financial aid of up to S$2
million from NEA, in a bid to build a fleet of 500 CNG
powered cabs.
CNG Cabs are cheaper to run than their Diesel counterparts, with
the only obstacle being lack of CNG filling stations in Singapore
(theres only one in jurong Island)
SMART managing director, Mr Tommy Harjantho, plans to open one CNG
filling station at SMART's taxi depot at Bedok North, one in
Woodlands or Sin Ming, and possibly one mobile unit. Talks is
on-going with CityGas and SembGas, to purchase the fuel.
SMART has currently 500 toyota crowns, 1 Mercedes Benz E200
(bi-fuel). the company has plans to order 100 more of the
Merc bi-fuel cab.
This MB E200 bi-fuel cab runs on CNG or Petrol, cost $105,000 per
unit, or $5,000 less than the diesel powered MB E220 (due to grants
and discounts courtesy of Daimler Chrysler, which supports the CNG
drive).
This holds a big advantage as well. Cheaper costs may means cheaper
rates/ fares for passengers, and lower rental rate for cabbies.
also, CNG retails at 70 cents for the equilivant of 1 litre
of petrol (cost $1.67 currently, $1.07 for diesel). cost breakdown
is roughly 7cents/ km (bi-fuel) vs 11cents for diesel
powered. The cab is flexible when changing between CNG and
Petrol.
The disadvantage? this cab mentioned neds refuelling twice daily
(diesel counterparts only refuel once per day).
The bi-fuel cab driver, Mr Toh Poh Cheng, 50, lives in Jurong and
faces no hurdle in going to Jurong Island for refuelling twice
daily, also added that driving this cab is quiter,
smoother, and cheaper to drive, in terms of fuel.
Article taken/ summarised from ST Home, page H4
in another ironic situation,
(Click here to read an
earlier report concerning the fate of CNG cabs)