Austria increases number of NGVs on the roads

Robert Grüneis, manager of Wien Energie, the country’s largest regional energy provider, stated: “The trend toward cost-saving and environmentally friendly mobility continues in 2011, natural gas is the cheapest fuel for motorists and is the green alternative to conventional fuels.”

More than a quarter of the growth was registered in Vienna, which features 19 CNG stations and the largest penetration rate. The city has 2,400 natural gas vehicles; followed by Tyrol, where the number of NGVs tripled compared to first six months of 2010. Upper Austria is in third place, with 50 new CNG-fuelled units.

The natural gas filling station network in Austria has also expanded nationwide. “We have nearly 180 CNG fuelling points, one of the densest networks in Europe,” added Grüneis. Cost savings are about 50 percent compared to gasoline or diesel.

In addition, there are incentives for NGVs drivers: 1,000 € from the city of Vienna and Wien Energie, and a 500 € reduction in the NOVA tax (a one-time Austrian standard tax for new passenger cars which must be paid before registering the vehicle) as CNG units emit less CO₂.

Source: Statistik Austria