Last updated on 24 August 2015
There are currently more than 20 million vehicles in the world running on natural gas.
This gas, which is called CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), is the same as the gas used to heat our houses. Natural gas is a resource that is very widely available in the world and is less polluting than petrol or diesel.
In Belgium, around a 2000 cars run already on CNG. A number of manufacturers are stressing this technology, which they consider more promising than electric cars. What’s more, the first CNG pumps have appeared in a few of the country’s service stations.
CNG is our ordinary gas, the gas we use for heating. It is compressed between 200 and 300 bars and consists mainly of methane, whereas LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) is a blend of propane and butane compressed between 5 and 7 bars. These differences mean that pressurised CNG can be stored as a gas at ambient temperatures. Moreover, unlike LPG, CNG is lighter than air. So vehicles that use this gas are not subject to the ban on access to underground car parks.
Stored in bottles built into the floor of a car, CNG can be used as a fuel for any vehicle fitted with an internal combustion engine thanks to a simple but costly installation (from € 2,000 to € 4,000 depending on the car model).
Find here all car models running on CNG (in French)
Calculate your benefits (in French)
These disadvantages, which are currently far from negligible, mean that as things stand, not many drivers are convinced by the use of CNG.
However, captive fleets of vehicles (taxis, buses) are already showing an interest in gas. In fact, these vehicles do not need an extensive distribution network and can fill up using a gas supply point fitted with an adapted compressor. In an urban context such as Brussels, the use of CNG could be advantageous for health and prove a significant social gain. So it’s worth keeping an eye on developments.
(See also: 'What different types of electric car are available?')