VW and Opel: Just Say Yes to CNG
Efforts of folks like Willie Nelson notwithstanding, the alt-fuel scene used to be pretty uncool. Just picture guys who spend their evenings filtering used grease they get for free from french-fry factories, or travelling salesmen who’ll drive a detour of 20 miles to fill up with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). But the supply of pretty good alt-fuel cars is increasing—at least on the right side of the Atlantic, where VW and Opel have recently introduced sexier Euro-CNG-mobiles. VW is now selling a technologically-interesting Passat version that utilizes both a turbocharger and a compressor.
Using a customization of the lauded, downsized 1.4L TSI engine, the VW Passat EcoFuel sports 150HP, 162 lb·ft of torque, and a seven-gear DSG transmission. Both Spiegel Online and Autobild say it’s a fun drive. So far, so competent, but the killer point may be the EcoFuel’s CO2 rating of only 120g/km, which is outstanding—considerably better than a comparable Diesel (and great in terms of CO2 taxes). Given that, in Europe, CNG costs about half of gasoline, EcoFuel sounds pretty smart. GM’s Opel Zafira Ecoflex has a turbocharger but no compressor, but boasts an overboost rating of 177 lb·ft. No, they are not calling it the Zaft-ira. Would TTAC’s Justin Berkowitz find the EcoFlex version of the Zafira a little less boring? The world holds its breath.
More by Martin Schwoerer
Comments
Join the conversation
CNG will never be more than a niche. It's probably fine for fleets - the Post Office, UPS, etc. It might make small inroads in consumer vehicles, but it's going to be left in the dust by electric in short order. This is just a good old-fashioned format war. I would argue that the winning fuel will be one that everybody in America has in their house already. That leaves electricity, and water. Anybody make a car that runs on water? torn: "...CNG cars are usually hybrids. " I do not think that is correct.
"# Bertel Schmitt : February 11th, 2009 at 9:19 pm In Europe, there certainly is no problem with the CNG infrastructure. CNG covers a frighteningly high amount of EU energy use, and pipelines run all the way from the well to the home in Europe." Very true! I must point out that the flow of gas into Europe will likely to increase by two-threefold in the not too distant future: there are two giant projects in the works already, Nabucco and South Stream. The first aims to pipe Central Asian resources into Europe through Turkey, Hungary, Austria etc to lower its dependency on Russia while the latter is the Russian counter-effort to defeat the (US-supported, mind you) EU Nabucco-project. "There also is no shortage - unless Russia decides , as it does frequently, to turn off the tap. Europe’s CNG is mostly Russian." I think while it presented a powerful image the latest annual Russian-Ukrainian row did a disservice to their (Russians) self-interests: it just accelerated Nabucco as it secured full EU-backing (see recent Nabucco Summit two weeks ago, held in Budapest: EIB-EBRD financing is ready, EC set aside 250M euros already etc.) Natural gas is THE future #1 energy resource in Europe, I have no doubts about it. However it also means it's imperative to break this vicious bargaining cycle with Russia - it is an unstable, anti-democratic, irrational country, you cannot build your future on a partner like this. "Using CNG in cars is cheaper, because it’s taxed differently. Diesel was also lesser taxed, which turned 50% of Germany’s cars into Diesels. Now the differential is gone, and diesel’s popularity wanes." Yep, that's exactly what I hate in Europe.D "Once CNG becomes popular, you can bet that taxes will follow." Most likely unless EC will appropriate renewable energy resources to offset the lower taxation. "The turbo/compressor engine is a joy btw. Fun to drive down the Autobahn at 250 km/h, knowing it’s a small displacement mill." Is there any noticable difference? Never drove a NG car...
@ k.a.mm ....the flow of gas into Europe will likely to increase by two-threefold in the not too distant future: there are two giant projects in the works already, Nabucco and South Stream. 2x or 3x?? That's a HUGE increase. Depending on how you count it, or the countries you include as "Europe", NG import capacity is about 197 BCM at the beginning of 2008, or about 55% of use is imported. Both of those pipelines propose to bring about 10 BCM, which is a long long long way short of 2x or 3x. Consumption is expected to rise by at least 8 BCM before Nabucco completion in 2013 (2014?). Dauletabad (Nabucco source) is likely already in decline and Asia wants access to that NG to. Some analysis in the trade suggests OECD import demand might climb to over 442 BCM by 2020.