COMPRESSED natural gas (CNG) is a low-carbon fuel that can be used as an alternative to petrol or diesel. It’s made from the same type of gas that is used for heating and cooking in the home and is popular in Germany and Italy, along with certain countries in South America and Asia.
CNG burns far cleaner than conventional fuels and there is no shortage of the gas across the world
CNG burns far cleaner than conventional fuels and there is no shortage of the gas across the world. Despite its advantages, the alternative fuel has failed to capture the imagination of British buyers, though this is probably down to a classic ‘chicken and egg’ scenario. It’s not cheap to install a wall-mounted compressor and a pressurised tank for the car, which puts buyers off. And without the demand, there’s a reluctance to invest in the infrastructure required to make CNG a viable option.
The likes of Fiat and Mercedes-Benz offer bi-fuel cars on the continent, which – thanks to the combination of a petrol and CNG tank – have the potential to provide some terrific range estimates.