Last updated on 8 January 2019
There are currently more than 20 million vehicles in the world running on natural gas.
This gas, which is called CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), is the same as the gas used to heat our houses. Natural gas is a resource that is very widely available in the world and is less polluting than petrol or diesel.
In Belgium, around a 11,000 cars run already on CNG. A number of manufacturers are stressing this technology, which they consider more promising than electric cars. What’s more, CNG pumps have appeared in over 100 of the country’s service stations.
CNG is our ordinary gas, the gas we use for heating. It is compressed between 200 and 300 bars and consists mainly of methane, whereas LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) is a blend of propane and butane compressed between 5 and 7 bars.
These differences mean that pressurised CNG can be stored as a gas at ambient temperatures.
Moreover, unlike LPG, CNG is lighter than air. So vehicles that use this gas are not subject to the ban on access to underground car parks.
CNG is stored in gas bottles which are fitted into the car’s chassis.
The number of CNG fuel stations has grown considerably in recent years. Most of them (around 80) are located in Flanders, while Wallonia currently has around twenty and Brussels one. But with the growing success of the CNG car, many new fuel stations will follow.
View the list of all existing and planned CNG fuel stations (in French)
In addition to these, our country also has two L-CNG stations, which distribute both LNG and CNG.
LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas. To form LNG, natural gas is liquefied by cooling at ambient pressure to -162 °C. This makes the volume 600 times smaller. The range of LNG is about 3.5 times greater than that of CNG on a similar tank content. So that makes it very interesting for trucks and long-distance traffic.
LNG can also be reconverted to gas in the fuel station in order to be used to fuel CNG vehicles. This is referred to as L-CNG refuelling.
(1) Study reviewed by Mobi and Marc Pecqueur (Thomas More) and validated by Ghent University.
(2) CREG study on the cost-effectiveness of natural gas (CNG) used as fuel in cars
Calculate your benefits (in French)
The Government of Flanders offers favourable conditions for CNG cars as regards the annual road tax and the initial registration tax (BIV).
More information on the tax advantages
The Wallonian distribution network managers, Ores and Resa, provide an incentive discount for every private individual living in Wallonia when purchasing a CNG car.
The usual inspection of the car (first after 4 years and then annually) must be carried out by a GOCA inspection centre. This is the same procedure as for diesel and petrol cars.
During the vehicle inspection, a brief CNG check (leak detection) will take place.
In addition, there is a 4-yearly inspection of the CNG tank. At the moment, only a few companies are authorized to do this (further information available from your fitter or garage).
More and more automotive fitters/mechanics are following the Educam training. Eventually, therefore, the specialist dealers themselves will be authorized to carry out these checks.
Show all CNG fuel stations in Belgium on a bigger map
For a list of all the planned CNG fuel stations, go to ngva.be
More information on natural gas-fueled cars is available here.
(See also: 'What different types of electric car are available?')
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