Fiat Group Automobiles will be one of the sponsors of the “ENGVA Annual NGV conference, political round table and exhibition” that will be held in Strasbourg from June 19 to 21. The event is organised by ENGVA, the European Natural Gas Vehicles Association, which was founded in 1994 and now brings together over 60 companies from 17 different countries, including Fiat Group Automobiles, with the aim of developing a sustainable, advantageous market for this type of vehicle in Europe.

Respect for the environment has always been a priority for Fiat Group Automobiles, and the company welcomes this important political event for the opportunity it offers to promote the use of natural gas in vehicles, as a means of improving the quality of life in built-up areas. Fiat demonstrates its attention to the environment through the products that it markets, through research and development plans, by sustainable mobility initiatives developed jointly with the public authorities and by investing in the development of new products. Fiat’s commitment to the environment takes two directions: improving the eco-friendliness of conventional engines, and research into alternative drive systems.

Natural gas: a choice that helps the environment

Fiat Group Automobiles believes that natural gas propulsion is the most appropriate technology available today to solve the problem of pollution in built-up areas, because the use of natural gas has both environmental and economic benefits. The Fiat Group is the first vehicle manufacturer to offer a “Natural Power” range of eco-friendly dual fuel methane-petrol vehicles that meet the mobility needs of a vast universe of users. That is not all. Thanks to the Doblò, Punto, Multipla and Panda Panda (the latest model to join the Natural Power family), Fiat is the leading European manufacturer of methane-powered vehicles; in 2006, the group sold about 28,000 methane vehicles, more than double the number sold in 2004, controlling 65% of the market.

The Panda Panda

Almost 25,000 orders for the Panda Panda were received in the first months of 2007, confirming Fiat’s leadership in the methane market. This reflects the company’s constant research into solutions that combine the customers’ demands (unchanged roominess, generous range and maximum safety) with respect for the environment. Intelligent, practical, appealing and a friend of the environment: these are the characteristics that identify the new “green” car, which is equipped with the 52 bhp 1.2 petrol/methane dual fuel engine. The Panda Panda is also available in a Van version, and it overcomes the compromise typical of methane cars. Its floorpan, which is derived from that of the 4x4 version, incorporates two separate methane tanks, for a total capacity of 72 litres (12 kg).
 

This means that the Panda Panda has the same amount of interior roominess as the original car, in the passenger compartment and in the boot. The 72-litre fuel reserve gives a range of about 300 km running exclusively on methane. The petrol tank is the same size (30 litres) as on the petrol version, which means complete peace of mind even in areas where methane service stations are few in number (over 700 km with methane and petrol).

The Multipla Natural Power

The original Multipla people-mover range includes a Natural Power dual fuel version (methane and petrol) which guarantees low fuel consumption but above all low emissions, combined with absolute safety. The car usually runs on methane, but it is always possible for the driver to choose the type of fuel supply he prefers. The solution adopted, with the cylinders positioned under the floorpan, ensures a generous operating range even with methane. The Multipla Natural Power is powered by a 1.6 Torque 16-valve engine, with a phased sequential Multipoint system. This technical feature means that the engine guarantees performance similar to that of a petrol engine even when running on methane.

The Doblò Natural Power

The Doblò Natural Power is also available in a Cargo version, with the same operating layout as the Multipla Natural Power, and excellent performance in terms of driveability, exhaust emissions and consumption. Nor can we overlook the fact that the Natural Power versions have the same passive and active safety features as those equipped with conventional engines: the position and anchorage of the cylinders were designed to pass the most stringent impact tests. The difference between the Cargo and car versions lies in the quantity and position of the cylinders.

The new Doblò has a methane tank comprising two cylinders (316 mm in diameter and 1050 mm long) positioned in the luggage compartment, which store methane in a gaseous state (rated pressure of 200 bar at 15° C) and a capacity of 126 litres (equivalent to 21 kg, or 30.9 cu m). The new Doblò Cargo, on the other hand, has 3 cylinders (capacity 111 litres, equivalent to 18 kg, or 26.4 cu m), positioned under the floorpan, so that the loading volume does not change.

And finally, the new Doblò Natural Power vehicle guarantees fuel economy and low emissions combined with absolute safety, and it allows the customer to travel even in the urban areas where traffic is more restricted.