Passenger transport on CNG

Design of vehicles with CNG drive

The in series produced passenger and small utility cars with CNG drive are usually designed as double-fuel - CNG and petrol. The motor is usually specifically designed with CNG drive. In passenger cars the pressure tanks (containers) for CNG are usually built-in the floor of the vehicle, i.e. the user does not spot any difference between a CNG vehicle and a conventional vehicle. The endurance distance of passenger and small utility vehicles with dual drive on CNG/petrol is 200 – 400 km on CNG and 150 – 500 km on petrol.

CNG vehicles available in the Slovak market

Vehicles listed in the table can be purchased in the SR and have a valid homologation for Slovakia.

Passenger and utility CNG vehicles

	Brand	Type	Fuel	Motor power kW
1.	Citroen	C3 1,4 i CNG	petrol/CNG	49
2.	Citroen	Berlingo 1,4 bivalent	petrol/CNG	50
3.	Opel	Combo 1,6 CNG	CNG/petrol	71
4.	Opel	Zafira	CNG/petrol	71
5.	Fiat	Multipla 1,6 16v natural power	petrol/CNG	68
6.	Fiat	Doblo 1,6 16v natural power	petrol/CNG	68

Usually the price of a CNG vehicle is by approx. EUR 2,000 higher compared to the same model with petrol drive. The current prices of vehicles need to be found out from the dealers.

EkoFond, n.f. - non-profit fund established by SPP under the Program GP 05/2008 „Support for enhancement of alternative CNG motor fuel” offers to the legal entities which do not perform a business activity (with the exclusion of political parties and movements) and/or perform service in public interest the financial support for covering the higher acquisition price – maximally 50% of the difference between the acquisition price of the same type of vehicle (vehicles) with CNG drive and petrol drive.

In the companies of SPP group there is running a joint project of gradual replacement of petrol and diesel vehicles by CNG powered vehicles. In 2007 there were 19 pcs of vehicles with CNG drive, in 2008 there will be added another 28 and the project will continue also in the next years. Everywhere where the operating conditions will allow it and where the CNG fuel will be available SPP will be using vehicles with this environmentally friendly drive.

In 2008 SPP will create a fleet of passenger and utility vehicles with CNG drive (vehicles have been already ordered), which will be preferentially determined for lending to entrepreneurs in order to test their operation. This means that any person interested in using the vehicles with CNG drive will have a possibility, prior to the final decision, to test the economic advantages of CNG fuel in practical operation.

CNG vehicles available abroad

Original, in the EU manufactured vehicles with CNG drive, with the original certificate of roadworthiness and the internationally valid CE certificate, can be individually imported to Slovakia. In this case there is also valid the international (European) homologation and the car can be officially registered with the police and operated in Slovakia. The disadvantage is that the authorized service is usually available abroad only.