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Northern Gas Networks (NGN) is trialling vans powered by liquid natural gas in the first stage of its network innovation competition (NIC) CNG Connection project.
The network company’s project will build the UK’s first scalable city-based compressed natural gas fuelling station for back-to-depot city-based vehicles.
The project will test the business case for a charging arrangement where costs will be collected over an extended period of time, which could help drive future private sector investment across Great Britain.
NGN introduced the first vehicle, a VW caddy, earlier this month in Leeds and a second van is due to be introduced in May.
The company has introduced the vehicles with the aim of cutting fuel emissions and improving fuel economy. The vans will be tested to see how they perform in a variety of work scenarios.
NGN said it wants to play a “key role” in the future of gas by trialling “new and imaginative projects” that have the potential to deliver a more sustainable future.
NGN fleet manager Trent Mapp said: “New, sustainable forms of gas can be used for a range of purposes – heat homes, power vehicles and even run entire cities. Although it’s early days, using natural gas to power vehicles presents an exciting prospect.”
The £1.1 million project is being conducted in partnership with Leeds City Council. NGN has committed to cover extra costs itself after Ofgem only agreed to provide £700,000 to fund the project through the NIC.
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