Switzerland, Geneva
Natural gas vehicles are out in force again this year, with no less than seven NGVs on show at the Geneva Auto-Salon, running from 8-18 March. Included in the vehicles on show is a world premiere showing of a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelled Opel Corsa. The project vehicle was developed for the show by BRA, Schweinfurt, Opel OSV Rüsselsheim, Opel Schweiz with Gasverbund Mittelland AG as the main sponsor.
Published specifications for the Corsa show that the CO2 advantage, driving on gas, makes full use of the theoretical 27 % advantage of methane (i.e. no efficiency loss compared to operation on petrol). Four gas tanks installed under the floor hold 24 kg of methane (34 Nm3), delivering a driving range on methane of 510 km.
The car sports a 15 litre gasoline tank car for emergency use, but with performance is optimized for methane operation, meaning lower power, torque and performance result when using the emergency fuel petrol.
The car has sporty driving characteristics with a top speed of 190 kmh, and acceleration of 0-100kmh in 10.2 seconds, but producing CO2 emissions of only 117 g/km.
Gasverbund Mittelland representative Hans Wach says the Corsa CNG project was initiated to highlight the benefits of natural gas and biomethane and to assist Opel with future product development. The CNG Corsa is also expected to be on show at AMI Leipzig next month and the ENGVA Conference in Strasbourg in June. Opel already have their Zafira model commercially available with a CNG option in parts of Europe.
Other natural gas vehicles on show at the Auto-Salon include the Fiat Panda, Ford Focus Tournament (1.6i VCT GREENPOWER), on show in Switzerland for the first time, Citroën C3 (1,4 GNV), Mercedes Benz E200 Kompressor NGT, Volkswagen Touran and the Opel Zafira.
The Opel Corsa CNG project vehicle, with a selection of other natural gas vehicles on show at the 2007 Geneva Auto-Salon this month.
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