In Sweden, natural gas vehicle (NGV) sales increased by 41 percent in the first half of 2018. And new car registrations for July and August indicate that the government's introduction of "bonus-malus" environmental rules for new vehicles that came into effect July 1, may already have had a positive influence on NGV sales.
Figures from Statistics Sweden show that new NGV registrations increased by 41 percent in the first half of 2018 compared with the same period last year. Also at a European level, NGVs have increased.
According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), the demand for LPG and NGV vehicles also increased strongly during the second quarter of 2018 – up 35.2 percent thanks to a “notable uplift” of natural gas-fuelled car registrations, 139.8 percent.
These are really encouraging figures and positive in many ways. Vehicle gas is one of the fuels that has the lowest climate and environmental impact. Not least in Sweden where renewable biomethane has a 90 percent share in vehcile gas, said Maria Malmkvist, CEO of the Swedish Gas Association (Energigas Sweden).
However, ACEA’s figures also reveal that gasoline and diesel-fuelled vehicles still dominate in Europe –combined, all alternatively-powered vehicles (APV) including NGVs, accounted for 6.9 percent of the market.
Nonetheless, the new car registration figures in Sweden suggest that the new “bonus-malus” rules for climate bonuses, whereby NGVs qualify for SEK 10 000 (≈ EUR 955) grant, is being well received by motorists. In July of this year, 290 gas cars were registered compared to 158 for the same period 2017, an 84 percent increase while preliminary figures for August continue the trend.
We believe in increased demand for gas cars now that bonus-malus has been introduced. It seems that it is already starting to gather momentum, said Maria Malmkvist.
