It is to be expected that Europe will become a major market for CNG in light, medium and heavy duty vehicles (cars, vans, urban buses and trucks) and LNG medium and heavy duty trucks (as well as ships) using a mix of natural gas and biomethane up the road to 2020 and beyond. Main drivers will be more stringent emission policies set by the EU and also the availability of brand new OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) CNG and LNG vehicle offers.
European manufacturers have to meet the Euro VI standard in January 2014 and cars registered in the EU by 2012 shall not exceed 120 g/km. Several new OEM offers of e.g. CNG LDVs (Light Duty Vehicles), able to meet these targets, have been introduced or announced at the recent Frankfurt motorshow IAA, including the Volkswagen Up! (2012), Opel Zafira Tourer, Opel Combo (2012), Fiat Panda, Mercedes-Benz B-class (2012) or the Audi A3 (2013).
In Europe, some 70.000 NGV units (cars, vans, buses and trucks) have been sold since mid 2010 and NGVA Europe, the Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association estimates that the European marketplace has a huge growth potential where the market share of methane (CNG, LNG and biomethane) powered vehicles will grow from 0,4%, where it stands today, to 5% in 2020, 9% in 2030 and 16% -20% by 2050.
Source: NGVA Europe.
