The CNG and biomethane powered eco up! has stimulated NGV sales in Germany.
Germany’s Kraftfahrt-Bundesam, the Federal Motor Transport Authority, received registrations for 860 natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the month of June. This is a figure not exceeded in the past four years and stands contrary to passenger car market registrations which have fallen 8.1 percent over the same period. German association erdgas mobile e.V. celebrates the success of its promotional strategy and encourages industry advocates to continue to lobby for natural gas as a viable alternative fuel.
“erdgas mobile is perceived in politics as well as in the energy and automotive industry as a strong voice and is well established as a successful service for the construction of natural gas fueling stations in the market,” said Chairman Dr. Gerhard Holtmeier at the association’s General Assembly meeting last week. The association has advised the government on mobility and fuel strategies relating to natural gas, and has supported the construction of more than 500 CNG filling stations over the past ten years.
Holtmeier says people in Germany have become very aware of natural gas and biomethane as fuel alternatives, evidenced by the 4,300 NGVs that were registered in the first half of this year, 1200 more than for the same period last year.
Earlier this year, erdgas mobile reported demand for natural-gas powered vehicles had increased almost 60 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in the previous year.
One of the drivers for this rapid growth is the recent advent of the three-cylinder VW eco up! which was named as an ADAC Yellow Angel for “Best Innovation” in the “Innovation and Environment” category. With fuel costs of around EU 3 (USD 3.97) per 100 kilometers and CO2 emissions of 79 grams per kilometer, the small car has generated great interest among drivers and fleet operators in the natural gas car models segment. The natural gas vehicle was launched in August 2012.
Sales are also supported by other high-selling models such as the VW Golf TGI, the Audi A3-tron g and the Mercedes-Benz B 200 NGD.
(Source: erdgas mobile e.V.)
