RIC Completes “Green” Conversion to 100% Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fleet for Airport Parking Shuttles

RICHMOND, VA (September 26, 2016)

ALL EASYPARK PARKING SHUTTLES OFFER ECO-FRIENDLY DOOR-TO-DOOR SERVICE 24/7/365 POWERED BY A CLEAN ALTERNATIVE FUEL

Richmond International Airport (RIC) announces that is has completed conversion of its entire EasyPark parking shuttle fleet – 21 shuttles in all – to environmentally-friendly Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).  The conversion from diesel to eco-friendly CNG shuttles represents an approximate $4.7 million investment in vehicles, a permanent fueling station, and related infrastructural improvements to support CNG use.

“We have received tremendous positive feedback from customers about the quieter and cleaner CNG-powered parking shuttles,” said airport president and CEO Jon E. Mathiasen, AAE. “With three years of CNG experience, it’s clear that converting to CNG was the right choice. The Airport is delivering a better product, enjoying savings on energy costs, reducing tailpipe emissions, and seeing reduced engine wear and tear on our shuttles.”

The transition from diesel- to CNG-powered vehicles for airport parking has had a net positive result. Compressed natural gas is the cleanest burning transportation fuel on the market today as it has less carbon content than petroleum-based options.  CNG produces the fewest emissions of all other fuels and contains significantly less pollutants than diesel. RIC purchases natural gas from the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities.

RIC’s original CNG program launched in August 2013 with nine shuttles and was assisted by a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program grant supported by the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization. Since then, the airport has purchased twelve new parking shuttles as well as CNG-powered maintenance vehicles.

All EasyPark shuttles are equipped with a wheelchair lift and are operated by drivers holding commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) with passenger endorsements. The Airport regularly provides special parking offers to travelers, encouraging them to “Spend Less. Fly More.”

Richmond International Airport (RIC) is one of the most modern and well-equipped airports in the eastern United States. Scheduled service from RIC offers nonstop flights to major domestic destinations and connecting options to points around the globe. More than 3.5 million passengers and 125 million pounds of cargo travel through RIC annually.  For more information, please visit www.flyrichmond.com.

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CONTACT:

Troy M. Bell, C.M.
Director – Marketing & Air Service Development/PIO
Richmond International Airport
(804) 226-3022 or tbell@flyrichmond.com

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