Natural Gas Is More Than A Bridging Technology

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Natural Gas Is More Than A Bridging Technology
Natural Gas Is More Than A Bridging Technology

Video: Natural Gas Is More Than A Bridging Technology

Video: Natural Gas Is More Than A Bridging Technology
Video: Natural Gas and the European Green Deal 2024, March
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The electric drive does not work despite the bonus, the hydrogen drive is still a while in coming. Volkswagen now wants to advance the natural gas drive, which for years vegetated as an ugly duckling in the niche.

By Thomas Flehmer

The starting conditions are not the best. Last year a natural gas tank exploded while refueling. What hardly anyone knows: The driver of the vehicle had ignored the call back to have his vulnerable tanks replaced. The damage to the image of the alternative fuel remains, which has been fatally flawed by incorrect prejudices for decades.

Nevertheless, Volkswagen is now relying on the compressed natural gas CNG. “The time is ripe,” says Jens Arik Almkermann, Head of Development for Alternative Fuels at Volkswagen, “ten years ago the technology was not that well developed and the infrastructure was limited. Now we have the new technologies in the third generation and thus sustainable technology immediately available from the stand."

Natural gas with great opportunities

While clogged nozzles caused technical problems ten to 15 years ago and the search for a natural gas tank in some backyard away from the actual route cost time and kilometers, the mature technology could actually grow into an alternative. Above all against the background that the electric drive is mostly avoided despite a substantial subsidy of between 3,000 and 4,000 euros and the hydrogen drive is struggling with the problems that the natural gas drive faced ten years ago.

"Natural gas is more than a bridging technology," says Almkermann, "you can't cover everything with an electric drive." Especially in light of the fact that the natural gas drive, which of course is due to the demand for a million electric cars for 2020 was sidelined by political directives, depending on the production process, almost zero emissions.

Bio natural gas with almost no emissions

Natural gas is still a drive alternative
Natural gas is still a drive alternative

"From the outset, CNG has a potential to save 25 percent compared to fossil fuels," says Jörg Worm, also head of development for alternative fuels at Volkswagen. The regenerative production of biomethane could reduce emissions "to up to 15 grams of CO2 per kilometer, and there are hardly any nitrogen oxides or fine dust."

In addition to the environmental aspects, everyday life with a natural gas vehicle also has a more economical effect. The fuel is tax-deductible until 2026 and, thanks to its high energy density, it is cheaper than other fuels. The vehicle tax is also set low, which means that the increased acquisition costs for a natural gas vehicle amortize over time.

2000 natural gas filling stations by 2025

And thanks to around 900 refueling options, there is comprehensive coverage in Germany, even if certain regions are not yet fully occupied. But the network is to be expanded to 2,000 tapping points by 2025.

Despite the good prerequisites in themselves, Volkswagen is not assuming success from scratch. “It takes time for the public to see the benefits. And you have to communicate that. And that's what we'll do from now on,”says Almkermann.

So far 19 natural gas models from the Volkswagen Group

The exploded natural gas Touran from VW
The exploded natural gas Touran from VW

With a common natural gas strategy. There are currently 19 models from VW, Audi, Seat, Skoda, MAN and Scania on the road. "We don't solve the problem of perception alone," says Bernhard Bauer of Autogazette, "but only as a group." The head of Seat Germany has identified an uncertainty among consumers through the environmental discussions surrounding the diesel issue, which makes it difficult for CNG to start over. "Then the whole chain has to be right."

The chain naturally includes retail, which has to rethink, as Carsten Krisgin demands from Caddy product marketing. "So far, the dealers have not been ready to put a natural gas vehicle in the showroom, let alone sell it." Those responsible for natural gas are currently creating training concepts so that the dealers can gain an insight into the technology and also want to show customers a natural gas vehicle as an alternative. “Of course we can see that we are demanding a lot from the dealers,” says Almkermann, who notices a certain inertia in the system. «Germany is a special case. But if you can do it in Germany, then you've made it."

The Volkswagen Group wants to have one million natural gas vehicles on the roads by 2025 - ten times more than are currently on the road. Then a broken tank would fade into the background.

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