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Supported by:
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AFD Show Cases |
| CNG Vehicles for Bremen - advanced marketing by integrating car dealers |
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Bremen (Germany)
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CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) is a ‘clean fuel’ for urban transport. The City of Bremen promotes CNG cars to achieve a critical mass of demand for car manufacturers and refuelling infrastructure |
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CNG (Compressed Natural GAS) is a „clean fuel“ for urban transport. Compared to petrol or diesel the emission of exhaust gases particularly nitrogen oxides and particulates will be reduced. The City of Bremen promotes CNG cars to achieve a critical mass of demand for car manufacturers and refuelling infrastructure.
Particular target groups are those with a high inner city mileage, e.g. taxis and delivery vehicles.
Within the European CIVITAS project Vivaldi, the energy agency „Bremer Energiekonsens“ and the energy-provider „swb enordia“ launched a special incentive programme for Bremen citizens and companies in January 2003. The project objective was to achieve 250 CNG cars on the streets of Bremen within 30 months.
This goal was reached. More than 330 proposals for funding were requested. A share of 65% of the new registered CNG vehicles are occupationally used and reached a mileage of 71%. So private users have an average mileage of 20.000 km p.a. compared to 31.000 km p.a. in occupationally use.
The environmental result of establishing CNG-vehicles is assess as good, because diesel-powered vehicles were mainly replaced. Exhibited of an evualtion, using CNG might be a cost-efficient alternative, too.
One important obstacle for introducing CNG cars is the lack of information of car-dealers. They are the key contact points in the decision-making process when purchasing a new vehicle. Before the project started, they had neither any information-material available about CNG vehicles, nor any CNG-vehicles for test rides. This situation has now changed through marketing seminars and a ‘test a CNG-car events.
Extensive work on public awareness is carried out (see http://www.bremer-erdgasfahrzeug.info).
Another successful element is a financial incentive of 1.000 € for private consumers and up to 2.500 € for companies per car. The applicant is committed to fill in a logbook about refuelling, maintenance work and any potential technical problems for two years, to complete two questionnaires and to put a sticker on the car - in order to increase the awareness for that clean fuel. With that incentive, some of operational disadvantages as poor infrastructure or higher costs for the purchase might be compensated.
Within one year, already more than 60 CNG cars have been contracted. More than 80% are commercial users, which indicates the success of the financial incentive.
With the ending of the CIVITAS-Vivaldi project the financial incentive of still 700€ per car will be continued (see http://www.bremer-erdgasfahrzeug.info). Furthermore three new CNG-fuel stations will extend the refuelling infrastructure.
Moreover DHL / „Deutsche Post Bremen“ grows in Bremen one of the German pilot-locations to implement CNG-vans for daily use. In November 2005 seven 5tons vehicles being comprehended with EEV-standard (Enhanced Environmental Vehicle) were putted into service. Within the Parfum-project other vehicles will follow.
There is a further objective of clean freighters for the City-Logistics system. It is put into question as the motor industry is in fact not delivering CNG trucks of the required 7.5 - 12 ton class (despite the presentations on websites and demonstration vehicles for motorshows).
The activities are not only promoting CNG-vehicles for Bremen. They are also a challenge for emission reduction of ‘conventionally’ powered vehicles.
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Author
Michael Glotz-Richter
Contact
City of Bremen
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| Links: European TARGET projectVivaldi projectEuropean CIVITAS initiative |
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