Strategic partnership plans to encourage NGV adoption in Spain
SEAT President Luca de Meo and GAS NATURAL FENOSA President Isidro Fainé have signed a strategic agreement between both companies 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 spearhead the growth and positioning of natural gas as an efficient, alternative transport fuel. Through this collaboration, SEAT and GAS NATURAL FENOSA will promote different courses of action for the introduction and commercialization of NGVs in three specific target groups.
One on hand, through the official SEAT dealerships, where developing infrastructure featuring gas service stations will be analyzed, as well as training programs for the employees. Secondly, both companies will create a joint commercial offer for self-employed Spanish workers, whereby they will benefit from economic advantages in cars and fuel. And finally, they will work on a domestic natural gas refueling program aimed at private individuals to be promoted with the administration in order to comply with the regulatory aspects relating to this activity.
Additionally, both companies will launch economic measures for research into new, efficient fuels, such as biogas. The strategic agreement includes a wider implementation of gas powered vehicles and promoting CNG in the area of public services.
SEAT President Luca de Meo underscored that “with this partnership we confirm our commitment to developing compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel. CNG vehicles actively contribute to efficient mobility in cities, to the reduction of emissions and to fulfilling new environmental standards. The role of the administrations is also fundamental for investing in infrastructure that accelerates the number of refueling stations and makes natural gas a more accessible technology”.
“This agreement will allow us to continue to promote sustainable mobility, both in the private and the public domain. Natural gas helps improve competitiveness and encourages economic development, thanks to its competitive price and key role in the improvement of air quality in cities”, pointed out GAS NATURAL FENOSA President Isidro Fainé.
SEAT currently features compressed natural gas and petrol hybrid technology on the Leon, in its 5-door and station wagon versions, and on the Mii, which will be joined by the CNG version of the SEAT Ibiza in the last quarter of this year, and of the new Arona crossover in 2018.
SEAT and GAS NATURAL FENOSA signed their first collaboration agreement in 2013. Since then, 237 CNG vehicles have been added to the utility group’s vehicle fleet in Spain. The company’s current CNG powered fleet in Spain is made up of close to 300 vehicles. The collaboration agreement recently signed will enable both companies to continue working on expanding natural gas in the scope of transport and encourage its use as an alternative fuel, both for private vehicles as well as heavy transport.
https://www.ngvjournal.com/strategic-partnership-will-encourage-cng-adoption-in-spain/