VIA rolls out compressed natural gas buses

New fleet will replace aging diesel fuel buses

SAN ANTONIO – VIA Metropolitan Transit on Thursday debuted the first of more than 400 compressed natural gas buses.

The buses will replace aging buses in its current diesel fleet, which are between 12 and 15 years old, VIA said in a news release.

Related: VIA releases footage of violent fight on board bus

VIA plans to roll out 270 CNG buses over the next few months.

The buses are 40 feet long and can seat 67 passengers, VIA said.

"They emit 97 percent less nox or nitros oxide than the diesel buses they are replacing. And that has a tremendous benefit from an air quality perspective. And obviously, they're newer technology. They'll be less expensive to maintain. We will save in fuel cost. The time we get to 400 buses, we're estimating $8.5 million a year in fuel cost savings while being better for the environment."

VIA will replace more than half of its existing fleet by fall 2017, with the ongoing fleet conversion expected to be complete by 2020. 

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About the Author:

David Ibañez has been managing editor of KSAT.com since the website's launch in October 2000.