Timothy Ouyang, Channel NewsAsia 9 Apr 09;
SINGAPORE: Local taxi company, TransCab Services, plans to roll out 2,000 new cabs that will run on compressed natural gas (CNG) over the next one to two years.
This was revealed as Union Energy launched a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday to commence construction of what is said to be the world's largest CNG re-fuelling station in Singapore.
Located along Old Toh Tuck Road at Bukit Timah, it will be Singapore's fifth CNG station when ready, and Union Energy's first foray into the CNG market.
The new CNG station, to be named C-Nergy, will be built over 7,000 square metres of land.
Up to 46 CNG vehicles will be able to refuel at any one point in time.
Union Energy says it expects C-Nergy to be open to the public by August this year.
The gas supplier says the station will also be used to service TransCab's existing and new CNG taxis.
TransCab, which shares the same owners as Union Energy, currently operates some 2,600 taxis, 500 of which run on CNG.
- CNA/yt
Toh Tuck to get CNG kiosk
Refuelling station is latest venture by Union Energy
Christopher Tan, Straits Times 10 Apr 09;
BOTTLED gas supplier Union Energy, which entered the taxi business six years ago, has driven into another new business - and in a sizeable way. In August, it will open the world's largest compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling station.
Sited at Old Toh Tuck Road off Bukit Timah, the 7,066 sq m station will have 44 pumps for cars and two for trucks and buses - beating the current world No. 1 in Bangkok by two pumps.
Union Energy is investing $16 million in the venture, joining rival cab operator Smart Taxis in an emerging business that will see four CNG stations serving about 4,000 to 5,000 gas- powered vehicles here by the end of the year.
Work was already well under way on the 15-year-lease site when Union Energy held a ceremonial launch for the project yesterday.
Union managing director Teo Kiang Ang said the lease can be extended, and added that he is confident of the station's viability.
'As long as I have 2,000 CNG taxis coming here, I can survive,' he said.
Union alone has close to 500 CNG cabs, which are part of its 2,600- strong Trans-Cab fleet.
Mr Teo said he has already bought 500 more - mostly Toyota Wishes - which will be on the road soon.
He is targeting to operate about 2,000 CNG cabs eventually.
'I am trying to get Toyota to make a CNG Toyota Crown taxi. I think a purpose-built CNG car is better.'
In 2003, Toyota tested a fleet of eight CNG Crown taxis here for a year.
Although the findings were favourable, the Japanese maker did not proceed with manufacturing plans as there was low demand.
Currently, most of Singapore's 3,600 CNG vehicles, including cabs, are converted locally to run on gas. Some suffer minor downsides such as power loss and unpredictable mileage.
Mr Teo has plans to build a second CNG station - possibly somewhere in the east.
There are now three CNG stations in Singapore: on highly-restricted Jurong Island, at Jalan Buroh and at Mandai Link in the north.
A new kiosk in Serangoon North by Smart Energy - an affiliate of Smart Taxis - was supposed to open in February, but has been delayed because of technical issues.
Mr Teo said it is important to have a large station when serving taxi drivers. 'They tend to change shift around the same time, and they will come in big numbers,' he said.
Mr Teo's taxi business has been growing steadily, and unlike some rivals, his fleet is practically fully hired out. 'Our benefits,' he said when asked about his success.
'We give our drivers what we promised. We do not go about another way to take back what we gave out.'
