Citroën and GDF Introduce Dual-Fuel Natural Gas C3 with Home Refueling

4 October 2005

The C3 CNG

Citroën and Gaz de France (GDF) have launched a dual-fuel gasoline-natural gas version of its C3, the C3 1.4i GNV, into a pilot program in the French market along with a home refueling system.

The automaker worked with GDF on the development of the car as well as on the mini-compressor home-refueling system, which is entering the market in selected areas starting with Toulouse.

Citroën and GDF announced their partnership on this project in September 2004.

The Citroën C3 1.4i CNG develops 48 kW (68 hp) at 5,500 rpm with a torque of 110 Nm at 3,400 rpm. Natural gas is injected directly into the cylinder head via four special injectors. The engine switches automatically a gasoline reserve when the gas tank is empty.

The car has a total range of approximately 700 km (435 miles): 500 km (310 miles) gasoline and 200 km (124 miles) CNG. Fuel consumption in gasoline and CNG modes is equivalent: 6.6 liters/100km (35.6 mpg US) on a combined European cycle. (CNG consumption is gasoline equivalent.)

CO₂ emissions in natural gas mode are 119 g/km; in gasoline mode, 145 g/km.

France is well behind its neighbors Italy and Germany in the use of natural gas vehicles and in the development of a refueling infrastructure to support them. According to statistics from the IANGV, Italy has some 390,000 NGVs and 509 stations, Germany has 27,200 NGVs and 558 stations, while France has a mere 7,400 NGVs and 105 stations.