It Doesn't Always Have To Be Electric

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It Doesn't Always Have To Be Electric
It Doesn't Always Have To Be Electric

Video: It Doesn't Always Have To Be Electric

Video: It Doesn't Always Have To Be Electric
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Natural gas propulsion is the underestimated alternative. Methane is not only cheaper, it also has lower emissions than petrol or diesel - only the lobby is missing.

The diesel will continue to exist, are in almost all engines experts who just gathered for their annual symposium in Vienna, agreed. At the same time, however, one thing is certain: You can't go any further with petrol and compression-ignition engines alone. The alternatives for the future are not just electricity or hydrogen. The natural gas engine is also coming back into focus these days. In contrast to the electric drive, CNG technology is no longer in its infancy and can certainly contribute to improving the CO2 balance.

Natural gas, like petrol and diesel, also belongs to the fossil fuels, but the CO2 emissions from gas combustion in cars are slightly lower than with oil. Above all, however, natural gas, i.e. methane, can also be produced synthetically - regeneratively from biomass. This reduces the CO2 pollution to around a quarter of that of conventional fuels. It is even lower for so-called e-gas, i.e. methane generated from electricity. How this works is demonstrated by Audi, among others: The Ingolstadt car manufacturer owns a few wind turbines in the North Sea and converts the electricity generated in a power-to-gas system first into hydrogen and then into methane. In the overall balance, this reduces CO2 emissions by almost half.

High energy density with natural gas

Why the efficient type of drive has not yet become more prevalent is a mystery even to experts - besides the better CO2 balance it offers other advantages: A liter of petrol currently costs around 1.35 euros, the diesel price is 1.12 Euro. On the other hand, a kilogram of top quality natural gas (a distinction is made between H and L gas) can be had for a good 1.08 euros. And: The energy density of a kilogram of natural gas is significantly higher than that of a liter of gasoline or diesel. "Roughly speaking, you pay twice the price of oil for the same amount of energy," explains Volkswagen engine boss Friedhelm Eichler, who has a couple of new gas engines in the pipeline and is hoping for the technology's breakthrough.

With the new Polo, for example, which will be launched on the market at the end of the year, the fuel costs with natural gas drive only add up to three euros per 100 kilometers. However: Compared to a similarly powerful conventional engine, the surcharges for the natural gas drive are usually up to 2000 euros. You have to cover tens of thousands of kilometers to get the extra edition back in.

Around 900 petrol pumps in Germany

But the offer is now quite decent. In the VW Group alone there are numerous gas cars, from the small Up to the stately Audi A5. In terms of driving behavior, the volatile fuel no longer differs from gasoline and diesel. Modern gasoline engines burn natural gas just as smoothly, are sufficiently powerful and run quietly.

Another reason that could stand in the way of buying a natural gas car is the filling station supply. There are currently just 900 petrol pumps in Germany. Compared to almost 15,000 conventional refueling, that's pretty little. But that is about to change: the auto industry and gas providers want to work more closely together in the future and expand the fuel pump network to around 2000 filling stations in the next two to three years. "Our goal is for natural gas drivers to find a refueling facility on the autobahn at least every 50 kilometers," says Eichler. Then the detours, which are sometimes unavoidable nowadays, will be a thing of the past - and things can finally improve with natural gas mobility. (SP-X)

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