DEPA encouraging police force to convert its fleet to natural gas

DEPA, the Public Gas Corporation, will grant the Greek police force a natural gas-fueled vehicle as an introductory offer aiming to encourage the force to gradually convert its entire fleet to natural gas.

The gas corporation’s chief executive, Theodoros Kitsakos, took the decision at a recent meeting with highly-ranked police authorities at the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair as a move intended to promote the advantages of natural gas fueled cars.

It is anticipated that older police cars will be gradually replaced by new natural gas fueled models, increasing the police fleet’s proportion of vehicles running on natural gas.

The growing network of natural gas refueling stations is making increasingly convenient the prospect of owning and driving natural gas fueled vehicles, as highlighted by the gradual rise of taxis running on natural gas in the wider Athens area.

At present, DEPA operates a total of ten natural gas auto refueling stations. This number is expected to increase to 12 by the end of the year and 17 by the end of 2017.

DEPA also supplies natural gas to 600 Athens public transport buses as well as 102 municipal garbage trucks.

According to refueling station market data, overall natural gas demand in Greece has doubled compared to last year, confirming the fuel’s rapid rise in the auto sector.

Natural gas prices for vehicles have been on a downward trajectory over the past two years, prompting drivers to convert, especially enterprises with increased transportation needs.

Price levels have steadily registered at below 0.945 cents per liter throughout 2016. Based on current prices, natural gas fuel is roughly 60 percent cheaper compared to unleaded fuel, between 25 and 30 percent cheaper than diesel, and 40 percent lower than LPG.

As part of its comapign to promote the benefits of natural gas auto fuel, DEPA has established agreements with several companies, including Mercedes Benz Hellas, General Motors Hellas, and Kosmocar, offering subsidies for a number of professional natural gas fueled vehicles.