CNG gas has represented a major innovation in mobility, especially for truck fleets and heavy-duty transport. Added to its environmental benefits are compelling economic advantages, which have driven the development of vehicular natural gases as an alternative to conventional fuel.
What are CNG and LNG in heavy-duty transport?
The natural gas revolution in mobility is a result of evolution and growing societal concern for sustainability. In this transition toward a more sustainable economy, heavy-duty transport plays a fundamental role, leaning heavily toward electric vehicles or less polluting fuels such as natural gas.
Within this category, we can distinguish between CNG and LNG:
- CNG (Compressed Natural Gas): It is a gas stored at room temperature at high pressure (between 200 and 250 bar), offering a range of between 300 and 500 kilometers.
- LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas): It is a gas cryogenically cooled into a liquid state, stored at -162 degrees Celsius, offering a range of between 800 and 1,500 kilometers.
In both cases, these are fuels derived from natural gas, more sustainable than traditional fossil fuels, and eligible for the DGT ECO label. Their use has spread throughout heavy-duty transport because it is significantly cheaper than diesel or gasoline and also reduces emissions by up to 25%, clearly improving air quality.
LNG vs. CNG: Which one to choose based on the route type
LNG and CNG gases have specific characteristics that allow you to choose between one option or another depending on the type of road route. Let’s look at the differences:
- CNG gas is used in urban environments, both in light vehicles and in some heavy vehicles (taxis, buses, garbage trucks… as well as private cars). It is perfect for short and medium-distance routes, with applications in urban logistics and delivery, among others.
- LNG gas is used in trucks, maritime transport, and generally in vehicles that need to cover long distances. That is why it is more widespread in heavy-duty transport and as a marine fuel.
Therefore, CNG gas is ideal for short routes (urban transport) because it offers a medium range, while LNG gas is used for long routes (heavy-duty transport) because it allows for greater autonomy.
The Natural Gas Alternative in Mobility
Both CNG and LNG are gaining prominence in the heavy-duty vehicle fleet, which is having a significant impact on the environment by reducing polluting emissions.
The use of natural gas as an alternative fuel has a major impact on road transport and the entire related industry, as it also affects, for instance, tanker manufacturing, heavy-duty vehicle design engineering, or CNG and LNG distribution logistics. What other advantages does natural gas offer for truck fleets?
- Reduces polluting emissions.
- It represents a lower operating cost compared to diesel.
- It generates less noise, which is ideal in urban environments.
- Ensures compliance with European regulations.
- Provides greater price stability.
- It enhances corporate image: it is more sustainable.
A cost-effective solution
Natural gas stands out as a sustainable alternative to conventional transport systems, offering not only environmental benefits but also improvements in business competitiveness.
From an economic standpoint, vehicular natural gas (VNG) is an alternative offering lower and more stable prices than petroleum-derived fuels. Likewise, manufacturers have strived to offer competitive vehicles with prices similar to those of conventional fuel vehicles.
Government support also offers opportunities to reduce dependence on these fossil fuels. Furthermore, Spain holds a position of technological leadership, boasting the largest number of transport tankers in Europe.
The growth of natural gas filling stations in Europe
Spain holds a leading position in terms of the number of natural gas filling stations. Thanks to the network of existing supply stations, road routes allow trucks to travel across the country using exclusively LNG gas, as well as complete routes throughout Europe.
On these corridors, different types of natural gas filling stations can be found depending on the type of fuel they supply:
- CNG filling stations.
- CNG-LNG filling stations.
- LNG filling stations.
In Spain, the most common setup is to find supply stations with dual dispensers: CNG-LNG.
In parallel with the growth of natural gas filling stations in Spain and Europe, the number of natural gas vehicles in our country has grown exponentially, even doubling the growth rate of electric vehicles.
To a large extent, this evolution is the result of shifting environmental policies driven by the European Union, which has set the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This forces the search for safe and sustainable alternatives to reduce emissions, with the transport sector playing a key role in this decarbonization process.
CNG and LNG gases are currently the only realistic alternative for reducing $CO_2$ and improving air quality. Therefore, natural gas in road mobility is key.
The Role of Molgas in Natural Gas Mobility
Molgas leads Europe’s most robust natural gas vehicle logistics network: CNG, LNG, bioLNG, bioCNG, CNG+… We are industry leaders with over 30 years of experience.
We operate across Europe with over 140 owned and affiliated service stations. We have a presence in 16 countries and the capacity to provide service throughout the European region, backed by supply contracts at major LNG terminals across Europe.
Thanks to our energy supply capacity, we guarantee the supply of clean fuels at competitive prices, as our commitment is to provide energy solutions that are not only more sustainable, but also more cost-effective.