Measures

Ostrava’s public transport system has made an important contribution to environmental improvements (and to cost efficiencies in its bus services) through the acquisition of 105 new low-floor buses running on compressed natural gas (CNG); these have already replaced around one-third of the City’s diesel bus fleet. A new high-capacity CNG filling station has also been built for the new buses. The station is one of the largest facilities of its type in Central Europe (3000 Nm3/hour, 24 buses/hour).

Ostrava’s investment in CNG buses and the CNG filling station has totalled just under 28.5 million EUR so far. Of this sum, 85% has been covered by EUSF, 5% by state subsidies, and 10% by the City’s public transport corporation. The difference in CO2 emissions between CNG and diesel buses is less marked than the difference in their emissions of substances that are harmful to human health. CNG brings a major decrease in emissions of suspended particles PM10, PM2,5, NOx and polyaromatic hydrocarbons). Considerably greater reductions in CO2 emissions are achievable via electric vehicles, which emit zero CO2 directly at the point of use. Nevertheless, the use of 105 CNG buses has enabled the City to achieve reductions of approx. 980 t CO2/year.

In accordance with the plans of the City’s public transport corporation and the measurable indicators set out as targets in the ‘Mobility’ section of Ostrava’s Strategic Development Plan, by 2025 the City’s public transport fleet will consist of at least 60% zero-emission vehicles (currently 54%), and at least 35% low-emission vehicles meeting EURO 6 standards (currently 17%). A total 95% of the fleet will thus consist of zero-emission or low-emission vehicles (currently 71%).