German Report Highlights Potential for CO2 Reductions from Natural Gas Cars

7 August 2005

Data from the KBA on CO2 emissions.

A recent report from the German Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (Federal Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Drivers) highlights the potential for natural gas vehicles to help meet the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA)’s voluntary 2008 CO₂ emissions target of 140g/km.

Progress in improving gasoline and diesel fuel efficiency is proceeding at only half the rate required to meet that target. (Earlier post.) The EC has indicated that it will consider tighter regulatory constraints on carmakers if the voluntary goal is missed, to ensure greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

The current total average emissions for new vehicles still remains some 25% too high. The new KBA report indicates that dual fuel cars using a natural gas-liquid gas blend already meet the target, while monovalent natural gas vehicles (fueled only by natural gas) already exceed the goal.

The German Federal Association of Gas and Water Management (BGW) embraced the report.

As of 1 January this year, 27,175 natural gas vehicles were registered in Germany, up from 19,105 at the beginning of 2004.