Fiat Professional adds the Fiorino Metano to its range in Italy this week, the efficient and ecologically conscious petrol-methane version being available in van or combi specification to join its wide range of LCV methane powered models. The gas tanks are integrated in the floor (one in the central tunnel, and the other in the rear floor pan), ensureing that the luggage compartment maintains an excellent volume (250 litres).

Fiat Professional adds the Fiorino Metano to its range in Italy this week, the efficient and ecologically conscious petrol-methane powered version being available in van or combi specification to join a widening range of LCV methane-capable models. Just a fortnight ago the Fiat brand introduced a petrol-methane version of the Qubo, the popular "free space" passenger car that is based on the Fiorino, and now the model joins the LCV fleet where the van versions of Fiat Professional vehicles including the Panda, Punto, Grande Punto, Multipla and Doblò already boast this option.

The Fiorino Metano is powered by a 1.4 litre 4-cylinder Euro 5-compliant engine with 70 bhp when running on methane and comes in two versions, van and combi, and two specification levels, base and SX. Entry-level list price is 12,900 euros excluding VAT and until December 31, the Fiorino Metano, thanks to its reduced CO2 emissions of just 119 g/Km, can benefit from the highest level of Italian government cash incentives: 4,000 euros for purchasing a methane vehicle, plus a further 2,500 euros bonus. For the launch promotion Fiat Professional are going even further and the Fiorino Metano can be bought during the initial period for just 3,990 euros.

Fiat pioneered methane fuelled vehicles over 10 years ago and is now Europe’s leading manufacturer of original methane fuelled vehicles (OEM) and the first and only manufacturer to offer a wide range of dual fuel models. Fiat Professional's focus on methane as a form of power has proved to be very successful already, with 5,100 vehicles using methane being sold last year which gave it a 72.5 percent share of the Italian market for this type of vehicle. The first eight months of the year has seen sales climb 50 percent over the same period last year despite Fiat's LCV sales in Italy being hard hit by the financial slowdown. The Fiorino Metano now joins Fiat Professional's other methane-powered vehicles on sale in Italy: the Panda Van 1.2, Punto Van 1.2, Grande Punto Van 1.4, Multipla Van 1.6, Doblò Cargo 1.6 and Ducato 3.0. This varied and extensive offering has helped Fiat to remain – for the second year running – the most ecological of the 10 best selling makes in Europe, with the lowest average figure for CO2 emissions as calculated by Jato Dynamics, the world’s top name in consulting and research for the automotive industry.

Methane: the best choice of technology

From a purely ecological point of view, methane is the cleanest fuel currently available. Unlike diesel vehicles, methane fuelled vehicles do not emit particulates and their NOx emissions are almost 90% lower. Compared to petrol vehicles, methane fuelled vehicles emit around 50 percent less NOx, almost 75 percent less unburned hydrocarbons and 23 percent less CO2. They therefore make a significant contribution to reducing the greenhouse effect and preventing climate change. And, of course they also allow their owners to enter restricted traffic areas in our city centres, park in enclosed garages and use public ferries. From an economic standpoint too, the choice of a methane fuelled car represents an intelligent alternative. In Italy, Methane costs around half the price of diesel and petrol, meaning that you can drive twice the distance for the same money. Since the beginning of the year savings with respect to both conventional fuels have grown significantly, so that by now a journey in a methane fuelled car costs less than half the same journey in the corresponding petrol version and over 25 percent less than the same journey in the corresponding diesel. In short, there have never been so many excellent reasons for choosing methane in today’s rapidly changing automotive market. It is no wonder that methane fuelled vehicles are experiencing record growth in sales: in Italy, over the last 12 months, 7 out of every 100 vehicles registered have been methane powered and over 90 percent of these are Fiat models.

Safety is another important issue: according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, methane is safer than both petrol and GPL, and second only to diesel. On top of this, OEM vehicles, i.e. those fitted with original systems from new, and manufactured with specially modified chassis using dedicated technology, are crash and emissions tested just like conventional vehicles and boast the highest standards of comfort and safety. And perhaps not everybody knows that as a gas, methane is non-toxic; the methane molecule tends not to form compounds with other elements in the atmosphere and therefore also presents a low fire risk. Furthermore, because methane has a lower density than air, if a leak does occur, the gas simply floats upwards and does not form dangerous concentrations near the ground. That is why methane fuelled vehicles are permitted to park in all types of garage, including underground ones, and are also free to use the ferries.

It is also becoming increasingly easy to refuel with natural gas because the network of service stations is continuously expanding. There are already 692 methane refuelling stations in Italy and another 48 will be opening soon. The section of Fiat’s corporate website dedicated to methane fuelled vehicles also provides an extremely useful search engine that gives you the address, phone number and opening hours of your nearest methane station when you to enter your own address.

All the strong points of the new dual fuel version

The new Fiorino Metano is powered by a 1.4 (Euro5) engine that boasts ultra-low CO2 emissions (only 119 g/km) and qualifies purchasers for the highest state incentives. From the point of view of running costs, the methane fuelled Fiorino Metano is a particularly valid alternative to a conventional fuel model (diesel or petrol). In Italy, it only costs 11 Euros to fill up with methane, for example, and 22 Euros of fuel will take you from Milan to Rome (a distance of 600 kilometres).

Another strong point of the new model is its exceptional autonomy: driving on methane you can cover 300 km thanks to a total capacity of 77 litres (13.2 kg of methane at 200 bar) between both tanks. Adding the petrol tank capacity of 45 litres (the same as on the conventional petrol version), the Fiorino Metano boasts an autonomy of 940 kilometres in the combined cycle. It is worth emphasising that the intelligent positioning of the gas tanks, integrated in the floor (one in the central tunnel, and the other in the rear floor pan), ensures that the luggage compartment maintains an excellent volume (250 litres). This can also be utilised to the full thanks to a special multi-compartment cargo box. The Fiorino Metano is equipped with a methane and petrol dual fuel system with two independent circuits. The car normally runs on methane and only needs petrol for start up. After that, it automatically switches to methane. The switch to petrol is only needed if the gas runs out, but in practice you can switch from methane to petrol and back again whenever you want simply by pressing a button on the fascia.

The Fiorino Metano is fitted with a 1.4 engine, developed and manufactured by FPT (Fiat Powertrain Technologies), combined with a five-speed gearbox and equipped with a phased sequential Multipoint injection system. This special technology allows the methane unit to offer the same performance as a petrol engine. It is extremely pleasant to drive thanks to 70 bhp (51 kW) of power at 6,000 rpm and 10.6 kgm (104 Nm) of torque at 3,250 rpm (with methane fuel). It offers excellent performance too, with a top speed of 149 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in only 17.5 seconds. This engine performance is further enhanced by the adoption of a drive by wire throttle control system.

Of course, the Fiorino Metano is versatile and practical too: its highly ecological engine and super-safe methane fuel system mean that it can enter restricted Italian city centre areas that are off-limits to conventional vehicles (with higher emissions). The Fiorino Metano can also park in any garage or multi-storey car park.

Finally, compared to vehicles with after-market gas conversions, vehicles with OEM methane systems enjoy a number of extra benefits. For example, the use of specific materials and components and the application of dedicated technology enable the customer to benefit from a full Fiat warranty, with a first service at 30,000 km. And because the chassis is specially modified in the factory, the vehicle also boasts the highest levels of comfort and safety, with gas tanks that are properly integrated and protected by the vehicle’s reinforced frame. Last but not least, an originally equipped dual fuel car (petrol – methane) offers a far higher total autonomy and ensures worry-free driving even in areas with a limited network of methane stations.