The VW city car powered by same gas as your oven

One of the snags about owning an electric car is the time it takes to top up its batteries – it can take up to 8 hours to re-charge fully from a domestic electricity supply and with range compromised by cold weather the problem is particularly bad at this time of year. In contrast to car makers like Nissan and Renault, who are forging ahead with all-electric models like the Leaf and Zoe, VW believes an alternative to battery-powered vehicles might be car powered by the natural gas many of us already use in our kitchens.

The VW Eco Up model is indistinguishable in terms of appearance from its petrol-powered version, but its three-cylinder engine is powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

The twin tanks that store the gas are hidden away beneath the boot and rear seats and are as quick to fill as a conventional car. The car also carries a reserve supply of petrol, enough to get the car 120 miles should it run out of gas.

According to VW, CNG emissions are around 25% lower than those produced by conventional fuel. CNG produced from landfill biogas has been found to have greenhouse gas emissions 88% lower than conventional petrol.

There are no plans to offer the Eco Up in Britain because there is no CNG supply network as there is in Germany. VW Eco Up is not VW UK is investigating the feasibility home compressors that would allow drivers to recharge the car from their mains gas system.

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