The European Consortium ECO-GATE, co-funded by the European Union and led by NEDGIA, the gas distributor of the Naturgy Group, today presented the brand ECO-G, designed as a distinctive sign to rename natural gas for vehicles.
In a scenario where most fuels are derived from oil, the new brand centres on the idea of “smart ecology”: natural gas is the ecological, economical and presently available option that is best suited to drive sustainable mobility on land and sea.
With a modern design and plenty of personality, the ECO-G brand has a unique typeface which lets it adapt to an organic leaf shape. The design is by the branding consultant Soulman Insightful Thinking, which is also a partner of the European consortium.
With this new brand, ECO-GATE hopes to unify the different names that have been given to the technology using natural gas as a fuel in land and sea transport. In this way, ECO-G will act as a designation mark, and the brand can be used by the manufacturers of land or sea vehicles, vehicle users and technological companies, and marketers and distributors in the natural gas mobility sector.
A present and future energy for mobility
ECO-G is a clean technology which almost completely eliminates the emissions of pollutants affecting air quality in cities: up to 100% of NO2 emissions and over 95% of solid particles. It also reduces the noise and vibration of diesel engines by 50%. And in terms of renewable gas, it is carbon neutral, with a 100% reduction in CO2.
Of all alternative fuels, ECO-G is the only one with already developed and operational solutions for all mobility needs, from family cars in cities to long-distance or international transport, without any loss of performance or autonomy.
As well as environmental benefits, sustainable mobility with natural gas also saves fuel (50% compared to petrol and 25% compared to diesel). For example, 20 euros’ worth of fuel will take a light vehicle 275 kilometres with petrol, 375 with diesel, and 555 kilometres with ECO-G.
Its use has been widespread for decades all over the world, especially in Latin America and Europe – for example, in Italy, with over 1 million vehicles and over 1,100 refuelling stations, or Germany, with nearly 100,000 vehicles and 1,000 refuelling stations. In Spain the figures continue to rise, showing general acceptance of natural gas mobility: in 2018 there were 5,745 new natural gas-powered vehicles (146% up from 2017) with a total of 14,200 on the road (68% more than the previous year).
About the ECO-GATE Consortium
The European Consortium ECO-GATE (European COrridors for natural GAs Transport Efficiency) is one of the world’s most ambitious plans for conventional and renewable natural gas mobility. Co-funded by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, it is managed and coordinated by NEDGIA, as the leader of a consortium comprising natural gas operators, technology and service providers, end users, and market research and promotion experts in Spain, Portugal, France and Germany.
ECO-GATE uses new technologies and applies innovative solutions to make the rapid mass deployment of this alternative fuel possible, thanks to a significant reduction in the unit cost, as well as a better understanding and more in-depth knowledge of customer needs.
The project will entail the construction of 21 natural gas refuelling stations along the Atlantic and Mediterranean corridors of each of the four participating countries: Germany (1), France (1), Portugal (6) and Spain (13). The funding provided to ECO-GATE for this purpose will be shared between the four countries and will enable the development of gas refuelling stations in Barcelona, Cordoba, Cartagena, Irún, La Junquera, Madrid, Salamanca, Tordesillas, Aveiro, Lisbon, Setúbal, Tours, Heddesheim, and other cities. It will also cover two pilot projects to supply renewable gas and hydrogen.
The following will contribute as natural gas operators: NEDGIA Madrid, Enagás Transporte, Dourogás Natural, Endesa Energía, Galp Energía, Repsol, Naturgy Europe, Inversora Melofe and Molgas Energía. The following will contribute as technology and service providers: Cetil Dispensing Technology, Soltel It Solutions, Fundación Cidaut, Evarm Innovación, University of Tras-Os-Montes and Alto Douro, Fundación Imdea Energía, Audigna, Ghenova Ingeniería and Madisa. As end users: Correos and San José López. And finally, the market research and promotion experts participating will be: Gasnam, Gijón Port Authority, Huelva Port Authority, University of Santiago de Compostela and Soulman Insightful Thinking.
European Union funding reflects the project’s compliance with European Directive 94/2014, driving the development of the market for vehicular natural gas (ECO-G) as an alternative fuel.
It also has the support and interest of the Spanish Ministry of Industry and the Portuguese Directorate General of Energy and Geology, as well as the Spanish Gas Association (SEDIGAS) and the Natural & Bio Gas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe).
More information at http://eco-gate.eu/