Natural/biogas fuels increasingly attractive

NGVA Europe Board member, the Swiss Gasmobil is once again promoting NGVs at the Genva motor show.

With natural or biogas fuel and constantly more powerful engines, environmentally friendly driving is gaining efficiency and attractiveness. At the Geneva Motor Show (March 3-13, 2011), the Swiss Natural Gas Association displays a cross-section from the latest range of models on the GASMOBIL stand at its usual location in Hall 5. Centrepiece is the Swiss Fiat 500C Natural Gas Turbo. With 85 HP and a consumption of 2.9 kg/100 km, the CO2 output of its TwinAir Natural Gas Turbo is a sensationally low 72 grams per kilometre. Around 9’600 natural gas vehicles currently operate in Switzerland. The number of natural/biogas fuel stations has grown to 126. Natural gas fleets are also steadily increasing: the Geneva-based CERN research centre will use 100 natural gas Fiat Pandas for its future mobility.

Natural/biogas is currently the most climate-friendly technology for series-produced internal combustion engine vehicles. At the 81st International Motor Show in Geneva, gasmobil ag – the competence centre of the Swiss Natural Gas Mobility Association – in collaboration with car importers, again has its own stand in Hall 5. Specialists are on the spot to answer all questions visitors have about natural/biogas fuels as well as about the current vehicle models. The exhibition showcases a cross-section of the newest range of climate-friendly natural gas cars. Every natural gas vehicle is also equipped with a petrol tank. If the natural gas tank is empty, the vehicle automatically switches over to petrol mode. This gives a total range that matches or exceeds petrol or diesel models. The average Swiss filling-station price for natural/biogas is around 30 percent cheaper than petrol.

Fiat turbo world premiere
The GASMOBIL stand presents a representative cross-section of currently available models. Centrepiece is the Swiss Fiat 500C Natural Gas Turbo. First deliveries of this special model will be exclusively to Switzerland. The 5-speed convertible combines freshness, verve, Italian style and tradition with highly efficient engine technology. The 2-cylinder turbo delivers 62 kW/85 HP at a natural/biogas consumption of only 2.9 kg/100 km and a climate-relevant CO2 output of 72 g/km. A value unmatched even by hybrid vehicles. The car was developed by the Swiss Natural Gas Mobility Association in collaboration with Fiat Group Automobiles Switzerland SA and BRA GmbH, Schweinfurt/Germany.

Also displayed on the stand are the Opel Zafira 1.6 ecoFLEX CNG Turbo (110 kW/150 HP) and Fiat Qubo 1.4 Natural Power (51 kW/70 HP) family vans. The VW Passat Variant Ecofuel (110 kW/150 HP, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission) with twin-turbo engine – a combination of compressor and turbo – boasts one of the most efficient drives on the market. The Mercedes-Benz E 200 NGT (120 kW/163 HP) with supercharger is an executive-class saloon car.

Further manufacturers additionally present natural gas vehicles and environmentally friendly innovations on their own stands. Today in Switzerland, 23 different models of cars and 13 models of delivery vans and minibuses with natural/biogas engines are available.

The number of organisations operating natural gas fleets is also growing. The Geneva-based research centre CERN announced that it will deploy 100 natural/biogas-fuelled Fiat Pandas for environmentally friendly employee mobility. To provide fuelling facilities, Services Industriels de Genève (SIG) have opened a new natural gas filling station at Meyrin close to CERN.

CO2 balance even better with biogas
Natural gas vehicles can run on natural gas or biogas and have a petrol tank in addition. In Switzerland, natural gas is supplied mixed with an average of around 20 percent climate-neutral biogas. Which makes the already very good CO2 balance of natural gas vehicles even better. With 60 to 95% less pollutants (fine particles, soot, nitrogen oxides and CO2), natural/biogas is currently the most environmentally-friendly technology for series-produced vehicles with internal combustion engines. And this without compromising convenience.

Natural/biogas (CNG, compressed natural gas; methane) should not be confused with liquid petroleum gas (LPG, propane/butane), which provides less environmental benefit. The two fuels and vehicle technologies are not mutually compatible.

Natural gas vehicles at the Geneva Motor Show:
GASMOBIL   Stand 5240 / Hall 5

Press photos and information about natural gas vehicles:
www.erdgasfahren.ch > News > Pressebereich > Presse Download (German, French, Italian only)

Contact person for information:
Thierry Leutenegger, Member of the Advisory Board, phone +41 58 274 04 58
Ralph Tschopp, Technical Project Manager, phone +41 61 706 33 02
Kurt Schmidlin, Erdgas Mobil AG, for questions about the Fiat 500C, phone +41 61 706 33 22

gasmobil ag, Untertalweg 32, CH-4144 Arlesheim, Switzerland
Phone +41 61 706 33 00, fax +41 61 706 33 99, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gasmobil Release: Natural/biogas fuels increasingly attractive

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