Recent data shows that this country accounts for over 4,000 vehicles running on natural gas, some 320 units more than the year before (+ 7,5%). This fleet includes 1.500 buses and 1.100 garbage trucks, plus around 900 vans, taxis and other light duty vehicles. In terms of fueling infrastructure, there are 90 natural gas stations, 39 of them open to the public. Out of those 39 public stations, 15 have L-CNG capability, while three provide LNG only. Most of the 50 private supply facilities are used to service refuse trucks and buses.
A big part of the country’s heavy-duty natural gas trucks is operated by municipal services in the big cities. The entire garbage collection of Madrid for instance, around 470 vehicles, is running on CNG. Moreover, large parts of the city’s municipal bus fleet are powered by CNG as well, making up for almost 800 units, 40% of the city’s 2.000 buses in total.
This large scale use of gas-powered buses and trucks has saved fuel costs, as driving with natural gas in Spain allows for savings of almost 50% compared to gasoline, and over 30% compared to diesel. Besides, NGV adoption has also lowered emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulphur oxide and particles and reduced levels of greenhouse gases and noise.
Gas Natural Fenosa announced this month that it will build eight new LNG stations within the next two years. If results are positive, the construction of additional nine stations is foreseen for 2019-2020. In addition, Seat, Volkswagen-Audi Spain and Madrileña Red de Gas have recently signed a deal to boost the use of NGVs whilst expanding the necessary infrastructure. Regarding incentives, the Spanish Government has recently announced the new PIMA Aire 4 Plan that for the first time will include, in a separate budget, vehicles using natural gas.
Source: NGVA Europe
