Short information
The Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility has been set up in support of the Federal government’s objective of promoting the use of natural gas-powered vehicles. The aim is to remove existing market constraints and substantially increase the market share of natural gas-powered vehicles and the alternative fuels natural gas and biomethane by 2020.
www.erdgasmobilitaet.info (in German)
Related projects
Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility: CNG and Biomethane as Fuels.
Business initiative coordinates accelerated market launch of natural gas and biomethane as fuels.
In its Energy Concept 2010, the Federal Government committed itself to the continued promotion of natural gas-powered vehicles. In this context, increased use of biomethane as a fuel is also being investigated. In response to this and other challenges, a broad alliance of well-known companies in the energy and transport sectors have joined forces with the ADAC at the end of 2010. Under dena’s coordination and with the support of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS), the Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility has drawn up a declaration of intent. Its main focus is the identification and coordination of priority measures. Annual interim reports will present the progress made in implementing these measures.
The Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility aims to significantly increase the share of natural gas and biomethane in the German fuel mix and raise the number of natural gas-powered vehicles. The 0.47 percent share in the German fuel mix as per the end of 2011 is expected to grow to 4 percent by 2020. In this scenario, the number of natural gas-powered vehicles would multiply from 94,000 at the end of 2011 to approx. 1.4 million by 2020. In this period, an annual 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions could be avoided. A 20-percent addition of processed biogas (biomethane or bio natural gas) could even reduce the carbon footprint in the transport sector by up to 2 million tonnes of CO2.
Well-known market players.
Aside from customer organisations, the Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility brings together well-known companies active along the entire value chain of the energy and transport sectors (see graph).
- Car manufacturers: Daimler, Fiat, Iveco Magirus, Opel, Volkswagen Group, VDIK – Association of International Motor Vehicle Manufacturers
- Petroleum industry: BP / Aral, Shell, UNITI – German Federal Association of Medium-Sized Oil Companies
- Gas suppliers: erdgas mobil, Wingas
- Biogas industry: VERBIO
- Gas engineering: figawa – German Federal Gas and Water Industry Association
- ADAC
- Public stakeholders: dena (coordination and communication), BMVBS (patronage)
Specific measures
The use of natural gas as a fuel is technically advanced. The challenge now is to establish this alternative fuel on the market. With this aim in mind, the members of the Initiative are implementing the measures set out in the letter of intent to increase the number of natural gas-powered vehicles on the road. They are focusing on expanding both the range of vehicles and the network of filling stations. Furthermore, they are working to increase the percentage of biomethane in the fuel mix. Supportive political framework conditions should create reliable planning conditions for the necessary investments.
The initiators signed the declaration of intent to promote natural gas and biomethane use in road traffic on 14 September 2011 at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt and submitted the declaration to the Federal Government.
The 1st interim report of the Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility was submitted to the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Dr Andreas Scheuer, on 6 November 2012.
Project Website
www.erdgasmobilitaet.info (in German)