Fuel cards for converting to CNG

Maxi taxi, taxi and school bus drivers who recently converted their vehicles to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG) have been presented with fuel cards by officials of NGC CNG.

The free CNG is being administered via a Scotiabank fuel card. Drivers in receipt of the incentive simply have to fill up with CNG and then swipe their card at CNG service stations.

The September 6 distribution ceremony is part of NGC CNG's ongoing efforts to encourage more drivers to switch from traditional diesel, super and premium gas to the more eco-friendly CNG.

State-owned NGC CNG is mandated by Government to accelerate the use of CNG as a vehicular fuel, as well as increase the number of CNG fuelling points across the country.

Earlier this year, the company offered the following incentives to vehicle owners to encourage them to switch:

TT $5,000 in free CNG for taxi drivers who convert to CNG;

$30,000 (large maxi) or $20,000 (small maxi) in free CNG for maxi taxi drivers who convert to CNG;

$7,500 in free CNG to registered members of the Private School Transport Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PSTATT) who convert to CNG; and

$15,000 in free CNG to registered members of the Private School Transport Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PSTATT) who purchase an OEM CNG vehicle.

NGC CNG said taxi driver, Ashmeed Mohammed, was elated to receive the card.

"When deciding to make the switch to CNG, this incentive tipped the scales heavily in favour of my decision. I’m now looking forward to reducing my fuel bill, now that I’m on CNG," Mohammed said.

NGC CNG said it "expects to offer hundreds of these incentives to approved applicants before the end of 2018."

The company also offers grants to registered maxi taxi owners who dispose of their existing vehicle to buy a CNG powered replacement.

To find out more about NGC CNG, you can download the NGC CNG app from the Play store or the App store or log on to the website www.cng.co.tt