Spanish Gas Vehicle Fleet Increased by 14 Pct in 2012

The Spanish fleet of gas-powered vehicles currently numbers some 3.700 units, equalling an increase of 14% in the last year (some 3.200 units by the end of 2011). As a result the market share for natural gas vehicles increased by 9%. On the commercial vehicle side Spain counts some 1.192 trucks, mainly operating in waste collection, and 1.547 urban buses.

In 2012, 82,87 million cubic meters of vehicular natural gas were sold, which are 6,08 million cubic meters more than in 2011, equalling in increase by 8%.

Today, 74 compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations are operating in Spain, of which 17 are public. There are also nine liquid and compressed natural gas (L-CNG) filling stations, which are all public. Furthermore, the “Garnet Project”, financed by the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and with participation by Spanish companies HAM and Gas Natural Fenosa (GNF), will create seven new LNG refuelling stations along two corridors.

Legislative support & incentives

There are no grants contemplated in the 2013 budget. The usual incentives offered in 2012 by the administrations of some Autonomous communities were:

• 1.200 € / new passenger car.
• 12.000 € / medium-heavy duty bus/trucks (more than 3,5 T).
• 30.000 € / new private filling stations.
• 60.000 € / new public filling station.

Furthermore, other incentives are also important:

• Exemption of registration tax for vehicles with emissions < 120 g CO2/km (4,75% between 120-160 g CO2/km; 9,75% between 160-200 g CO2/km and 14,75% > 200 g CO2/km).

From an economic perspective, in Spain the savings in fuel costs per kilometre for a medium duty car running on NG is about 40% compared to an equivalent petrol engine and 30% compared with a diesel version.

[mappress]
Source: NGVA Europe, March 28, 2013