Natural gas for vehicles

The natural gas for vehicles (shortened in GNV ) is Natural gas, made up to 97% of Méthane, the same one as that of the network Gas for domestic use in France and used like automobile Carburant.

For France, this methane comes mainly from abroad (Russia, Algérie), but can be produced (to a lesser extent) in stations of Méthanisation (treatment plants of the household refuse, purification plants, digesters agricultural, to see Lille example).

See also: Biogas

Because of these conditions of distribution, GNV initially interested the users of captive fleets, namely of the fleets of vehicles attached to a site equipped with a compressor. They are firstly the Autobus and the large urban utilities (garbage dumpsters, for example).

For the private individuals, there exist several possibilities. The network of service stations GNVert makes it possible to the private individuals to fill the tank with GNV in some French cities. It is also possible to establish conventions of distribution near the stations of fleets of prisoners GDF or others (drunk city, for example).

The GNV, like all other carburizing, is subjected in France to the excise tax of consumption, the rate of 8.47 € by 100 standardized cubic bills of quantities.

The use of a natural gas compressor intended to be used as containing hydrocarbon requires an authorization delivered by the head office of the customs and indirect rights.

Gaz de France proposes from now on with its particular customers having a house connected to the network gas with garage or a private garden (lawful condition), to install a station of domestic filling which makes it possible to fill the tank at home.

For safety reasons and of obstruction, the domestic station of filling does not comprise gas reserve under pressure, but compress the gas directly in the tank of the car. Contrary to full in station (with reserves under pressure), the full one at the house is thus a rather long process. The domestic station functions without monitoring and stops when the tank of the car is full (think of your cellphone that you connect the evening at the house.) At present, the station of filling at the house is not available in all France. Gaz de France carries out a deployment by areas. The Haute-Garonne was the first covered zone, fine 2005/début 2006.

The cars and utility GNV available in France are in majority of the motor vehicles Bi-carburation natural gas/gasoline. Gasoline autonomy makes it possible to compensate for the weak density of public refuel/defuel couplings GNV in France. In Switzerland, it is possible to convert a vehicle gasoline with GNV/essence Bi-carburation. In France, the “second goes up” is discouraged by the suppliers and the State. Several European manufacturers propose motorizations GNV/essence Bi-carburation with their range.

The French administration set up a variety of subsidies or tax incentives for the companies or the private individuals in favor of the vehicles GNV, which are clean vehicles. The territorial collectivities in France have as for them obligation to acquire 20% of clean vehicles during the renewal of their car fleet.

One should not confuse Natural gas for vehicle GNV, Natural gas Liquefied GNL and Petroleum gas liquefied LPG. The GNV is a gas product composed of methane, whereas the LPG is a liquid propane and butane product made up. For technical reasons, a vehicle LPG cannot absolutely function with the GNV and conversely.

Some advantages of the GNV:

a difficult inflammability: the GNV is containing hydrocarbon flammable one with more difficulty. The temperature necessary to ignite natural gas is at 540°C, that is to say the double of the Gazole.
a fast dilution: the GNV lighter than the air is dissipated quickly in the event of escape, without forming explosive tablecloth or of flammable puddle pool, contrary to the other fuels. In confined atmosphere, the speed of dispersion raised in the air makes it possible natural gas quickly to be diluted.
a beach of reduced inflammability: the beach of inflammability of the GNV lies between 5 % and 15 % of concentration in the air.
an absence of Bleve (risk of explosion): the GNV remaining in a gas state whatever its temperature, it is not prone to the bleve.
gas reserves fossil naturalness in the world are important, and the Biogaz is an additional source.
of the reduced emissions: 25% of carbon dioxide emissions (C02) in less than the gasoline, any smoke nor particle, very few nitrogen oxides.

Taking into account these elements and characteristics of the GNV, there does not exist any restriction concerning the access to the Parking S undergrounds for the vehicles functioning to the GNV.

See too

Internal bonds

Fuel in residence

External bonds

the official site of the GNVert network in France
Pages carburizing natural gas on the site of Gaz de France
Roll to natural gas? File " Development durable" on the site of Gaz de France
GNVert Stations in France open to the private individuals stations of the GNVert network only
Chart of stations GNV in France more complete chart
GNV for the buses
Compressing GNV
a very complete site on the GNV

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