OREANDA-NEWS. For two weeks, the media have been discussing prospects of transition of Russian vehicles to gas motor fuel.

Russia’s officials expressed their interest in it: on the 13th of May, Prime Minister signed a decree on transition of half of public transport means to gas (though by 2020, and in million cities at that), and a day later, President drew attention to safety of gas fuel usage and acceleration of “transition processes” at a meeting in Sochi. Sergey Kogogin, General Director of OJSC KAMAZ, who can rightly claim to be one of the main “lobbyists” of transition to gas fuel, also participated in the meeting with Russia’s President, and Prime Minister’s decree was signed after a meeting in Nizhny Novgorod where KAMAZ’s top manager had delivered a speech.

Gas-powered vehicle production is one of the main activities of KAMAZ, and the company is officially considered to be a “trendsetter” in this sphere in Russia. It is well-known that today’s KAMAZ buses and vehicles running on CNG – compressed natural gas methane – are not exhibits, but serially produced vehicles. According to KAMAZ Finance and Trading Company, about 500 vehicles in all were sold from 2009 to 2012.

Of course, KAMAZ focuses on gas fuel among alternative fuels. No doubt that a vehicle running on methane is more efficient and environmentally friendly in operation. A gas engine is simpler by design than a diesel one to achieve high emission standards (Euro 5 and 6). Comparing fuel costs for vehicle operation, we see that diesel fuel costs are 27-31 roubles a liter, and methane fuel costs are 9 roubles per m3.

However, the sale price of a gas vehicle (according to the cost price) is higher than that of a diesel one by RUB 500-800 thousand, though, according to KAMAZ’s Analytical Service, a gas-powered KAMAZ dump truck, for instance, will save about 10 roubles per 1 kilometer and repay faster than its diesel analog. Even with a moderate kilometrage (70 thousand km a year) for eight years of operation, the vehicle will bring revenues by 5 mln roubles more. But, on the whole, transition to methane could bring an economic effect of tens and even hundreds of billion roubles: the matter is in ecology and people’s health.