VCS Swiss Top Ten Clean Vehicles for 2010 –
August 12, 2010 | Switzerland, Herzogenbuchsee

VW Passat TSI EcoFuel - the top natural gas vehicle in the VCS survey.
The VCS Traffic Club of Switzerland has released its 3rd edition of environmental ratings for light duty vehicles (cars and vans). It is said to be the only credit rating of its kind in Switzerland and provides information on climate, air and noise pollution of about 350 models. In this edition vans are included up to 3.5 tonnes and vans seating 5 and 6 people. In the 5-seat category, natural gas vehicles filled seven out of the top ten places. Not to be outdone, the 6-seat category saw NGVs filling eight of the top ten places.
NGVs were represented in all classes except the ‘Upper Middle Class’. Seventeen NGVs gained a 5-star rating, with the best NGV being the VW Passat 1.4 TSI DSG Ecofuel (70.2 points). It was closely followed by the Fiat Punto Evo / Actual 1.4 NO (69.8 points).

Top places in all categories have swung from year to year between vehicles with natural gas / biogas engines or diesel engines with particulate filters.

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Garrigues Study Identifies Opportunities for Natural Gas Fuel in Spain
August 12, 2010 | Spain
A study carried out by Garrigues Medio Ambiente, with the assistance of Asociación Española del Gas (Sedigas – Spanish Gas Association), has come up with recommendations that could help Spain achieve the 20/20/20 Millennium Green Package set by the European Union. The study makes mention of several “Opportunities for Development” for natural gas fuels for transportation.

Opportunities for Development:

Promote the use of natural gas in road vehicles. Natural gas vehicles offer the same benefits as vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines, but with up to 40% less cost of fuel per kilometer. In Spain there is great growth potential natural gas vehicle (NGV) market compared to the rest of Europe. Based on NGVA Europe figures, Spain has only o.2% of all natural gas vehicles in Europe (29 countries).
Develop the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships, especially in fishing fleets and short haul. It is estimated that the potential for reducing GHG emissions by fuel switching to natural gas would be up to 15%.
Encourage the conversion of captive fleets (public transport and refuse collection) to natural gas.
A considerable improvement of air quality in cities could be brought about by the significant reduction of local pollutants: 97% and 95% less NOx emissions than gasoline and diesel and 92% and 99% fewer emissions of particulate matter than gasoline and diesel, as well as reducing noise pollution.


The EU 20/20/20 climate change package:

EU Heads of State and Government set a series of demanding climate and energy targets to be met by 2020. These are:

A reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions of at least 20% below 1990 levels
20% of EU energy consumption to come from renewable resources
A 20% reduction in primary energy use compared with projected levels, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency.
Collectively they are known as the 20-20-20 targets.


Buck