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Volkswagen
Commercial Vehicles will have the only compact panel van in the UK to be
powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) when the Caddy EcoFuel goes on
sale this summer. The larger Caddy Maxi EcoFuel, offering an extra 1.0
m³ of loadspace, will be introduced simultaneously as another practical,
alternatively-fuelled choice for green-conscious van operators.
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The Caddy EcoFuel has
been developed as part of Volkswagen’s broad environmental research
programme. It went on sale on the Continent in 2006 where 7,500
examples were sold last year.
There are two key
benefits of operating a CNG-powered vehicle:
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Lower, cleaner emissions
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Reduced fuel costs (CNG is approximately 50 per cent
less than diesel)
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The greatest
environmental benefit of using CNG as a fuel is the dramatic reduction
of exhaust gases; for example, compared to the equivalent TDI engine
carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are over 50 per cent lower, nitrogen
oxide (NOx) emissions are 97 per cent lower, and there are zero
particulates.
The engine can
operate on biomethane, a sustainable fuel that is now becoming
commercially available from renewable sources, or CNG, which is the same
gas we use for our heating and cooking at home. It also has a 13-litre
petrol tank as a reserve, which is automatically and smoothly engaged
should the gas supply run out.
Natural gas is a
practical alternative fuel that is easy to use, with claims that there
are enough natural gas reserves to last 70 to 100 years, compared to a
predicted 40 years for oil.
The steel gas tanks
do not intrude on the Caddy’s load volume of 3.2m³ as they are mounted
beneath the vehicle. Depending on how the Caddy EcoFuel is driven and
the payload carried, the 26 kg capacity of gas offers a range of around
270 miles or, if combined with the petrol reserve, a range of over 350
miles. This is more than adequate for most operators, and ideal for
back-to-base fleets that are able to install an on-site CNG refuelling
facility. The Caddy Maxi EcoFuel’s larger gas tanks offer a range of
350 miles, plus 80 miles from the petrol tank – making a total of 430
miles.
As you would
expect, the Caddy EcoFuel is designed and tested to be safe to use.
Comprehensive safety systems include extremely strong steel gas tanks
which have proved to be heat-resistant and virtually indestructible in
extreme testing.  In
the event of an accident, electro-magnetic valves with triple protection
prevent any gas escaping, which provide the same benefit if the vehicle
were to be driven off while it is being refuelled.
The innovative
engine in the Caddy EcoFuel is a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol unit
which has been optimised to efficiently use CNG or petrol. It has CO2
emissions of 157 g/km, over 20 per cent lower than a conventional petrol
engine.
Full details,
including prices and technical specifications, for the Caddy EcoFuel and
Caddy Maxi EcoFuel will be released in late spring.
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