VW Passat TSI EcoFuel
Germany’s automobile association ADAC has conducted a clean-drive technology marathon. Six different vehicles driven by 30 drivers were tested for six months carrying out the normal driving routines of daily life. Overall, 107,000 km were driven on trips to shops, to kindergarten, on vacation. In addition to the CNG fueled VW Passat TSI EcoFuel, a Honda Insight 1.3i-DSI Hybrid (Mild-Hybrid), a Mercedes C250 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (Low-Diesel), a Kia Cee’d SW 1.6 ISG (Start-stop gasoline), a Toyota Prius 8.1 Hybrid (full hybrid) and a Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 Ecologic (LPG) were tested. Erdgas-fahren reports the VW Passat with its 150-hp turbocharged engine consumed just 5.0 kilograms of natural gas per 100 kilometers, for best economy – a performance commended by ADAC for a middle-class vehicle. Passat CO2 emissions were 136 g/km.
However, taking into consideration the still relatively low number of natural gas fuelling stations in Germany (approx 870), ADAC commented that infrastructure and individual driver habits played a big role when choosing the most suitable technology. Filled with natural gas the Passat travels about 400 km; a gasoline tank increases that range to about 800 km.
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