Spain: Seat and Gas Natural join forces to boost NGVs
Car manufacturer Seat and Gas Natural Fenosa have signed a strategic agreement to promote joint innovation projects and expand the use of natural gas in the scope of mobility in Spain.
This long-term partnership will enable the utility company and the carmaker to push for the growth and positioning of natural gas vehicles (NVGs) as an alternative transport fuel.
The two companies will focus on three different projects to promote natural gas for vehicles: the development of infrastructure featuring service stations, as well as training programmes; secondly, both companies will create a joint commercial offer for self-employed Spanish workers; and finally, they will work on a domestic natural gas refuelling programme aimed at private individuals to be promoted with the administration.
“The role of the administrations is also fundamental for investing in infrastructure that accelerates the number of refuelling stations and makes natural gas a more accessible technology,” says Seat President Luca de Meo.
Vehicular Natural Gas in Spain
In Spain there are currently 50 public stations that supply natural gas, 27 of which belong to Gas Natural Fenosa. According to Gasnam figures (the Iberian Association of Natural Gas for Mobility), the number of registrations of natural gas powered vehicles increased by 133% in 2016 in Spain, bringing the total number to over 6,100. Of these, nearly 1,700 were light vehicles and over 4,200 were heavy transport vehicles such as buses and trucks.
Spain is currently the European country with the most service stations supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) for vehicles, and has the second highest number of LNG powered transport vehicles in Europe.
