Ten new buses that use natural gas as their fuel will be introduced to Helsinki's regional transit system in August.
Emissions from the buses, bought by Helsingin Bussiliikenne, fall below the Euro 5 norms which will take effect in a couple of years.
Tests indicate that emissions of carbon monoxide from the gas-fired engines are close to zero grammes per kilometre. The norms allow CO emissions of up to three grammes per kilometre. The gas buses emit clearly less solid particles than diesel vehicles do.
Other advantages include a more silent engine.
The vehicles are manufactured by MAN, which is delivering 16 buses to Helsingin Bussiliikenne this year. The company has a total of 72 buses that operate on natural gas.
The new buses could also use bio-gas as a fuel. Sweden already has many buses that run on bio-gas.
The cost of a natural gas bus is between 25 and 30 per cent higher than for diesel vehicles. However, natural gas costs less than diesel. The new buses will be placed on long routes.
Natural gas buses cannot be used on routes to the west of Helsinki before a safety issue with the bus terminal at the Kamppi Center is resolved.
A glass wall in the underground terminal could shatter if a natural gas bus were to catch fire.
Seppo Jussila of Helsinki City Transport also notes that safety precautions in the buses work better in open space. "We should take better precautions for indoor accidents", Jussila says.
