Economy Trip: Ersing Beats The Armorer

Table of contents:

Economy Trip: Ersing Beats The Armorer
Economy Trip: Ersing Beats The Armorer

Video: Economy Trip: Ersing Beats The Armorer

Video: Economy Trip: Ersing Beats The Armorer
Video: SWGOH SEE with Armorer Vs SLKR double tank 2024, March
Anonim

This time it wasn't enough. During the efficiency drive from Berlin to Prague, Gerhard Plattner had to admit defeat in a Skoda Octavia G-TEC. Paul-Janosch Ersing covered the route much more economically.

Frank Mertens

Gerhard Plattner had already seen it coming from Berlin to Prague after the first third of the economy drive: this time it would probably be nothing with a victory in this efficiency drive in a Skoda Octavia G-TEC, as the VW subsidiary calls its natural gas variant.

Because the Austrian was already well behind Paul-Janosch Ersing from Tübingen with 2.6 kg after the first stop after 132 kilometers at the rest area Freienhufener Eck with a consumption of 3.1 kg. "After almost a third of the distance, that's really a big difference," said Plattner.

Ersing clearly undercuts normal consumption

The 75-year-old turned out to be right. When he arrived after 362 kilometers, Plattner shouldn't have won. It arrived in the Czech capital with an average consumption of 2.59 kg - and was thus again behind the victorious Ersing, who was able to park the natural gas Octavia at its destination with a consumption of just 2.37 kg. "I would never have thought that I would stay so well below the standard consumption of 3.5 kilograms," said Ersing, surprised.

The victory also came as a surprise for Ersing. Because until late Tuesday evening he did not know to which charitable institution he would pass the winning prize, a Skoda Citigo G-TEC. For this purpose, Tübingen's Lord Mayor Boris Palmer sent him some tips by text message from institutions that could use such a vehicle particularly well. Ersing wants to decide this Wednesday who receives the natural gas Citigo. “To undercut the standard consumption by more than 30 percent: I would not have expected that. The natural gas drive is a real alternative to the tried and tested energy sources gasoline and diesel,”said Ersing in the destination.

All participants stay under three kilograms

The tank cap was taped shut with a seal
The tank cap was taped shut with a seal

Gerhard Plattner showed himself to be a fair loser after the economy drive. No, he is not depressed about his defeat. After all, said the Austrian, FC Bayern would occasionally lose. In the end, however, they are always the best, he added with a smile. Plattner praised Ersing's performance. That is a really, really good value. Overall, Plattner praised the performance of his eight competitors, all of them journalists, all of whom reached the finish line with a consumption of well under three kilograms.

Incidentally, winner Ersing covers the distance between the two European capitals for 8.02 euros - and thus remained well below the 13 euros assumed before the start for the 362 kilometers. “A compliment to all drivers. They have shown that if you drive carefully, you can stay below the standard consumption even with little experience,”said Plattner.

With this economy drive, the VW subsidiary Skoda was able to prove that even normal petrol drivers can significantly undercut the standard consumption. A natural gas vehicle therefore quickly pays for itself in the wallet. Because with every trip to the gas station - there are now 925 natural gas filling stations in Germany - buying a natural gas vehicle pays off. At Skoda, ten percent of all orders for the Skoda Citigo are for the natural gas variant. "And we are also assuming a similar distribution for the Octavia G-TEC, which only recently came onto the market"; said spokesman Rainer Strang.

Natural gas is becoming more popular

Gerhard Plattner at the finish in Prague
Gerhard Plattner at the finish in Prague

But natural gas still leads a shadowy existence on German roads. In the previous year, just a little more than 7,800 natural gas vehicles were newly registered, but with a clearly increasing tendency, as Timm Kehler said, the managing director of Erdgas Mobil.

Kehler hopes for a further increase in sales from the recently passed EU directive. It provides for a significant expansion of the Europe-wide natural gas filling station network. At the same time, manufacturers such as Skoda are also supported by the fact that customers are increasingly looking for low-CO2 vehicles when buying new cars, as a study by the German Energy Agency (Dena) shows.

Compared to gasoline, natural gas is not only more efficient, it also has 25 percent lower CO2 emissions. Aspects that all speak for themselves despite the initially higher purchase price for natural gas. But it pays for itself: According to a study by the Energy Economics Institute (EWI) at the University of Cologne, a natural gas car in the compact and mid-range pays off when you buy it.

Recommended: