Natural Gas

Over the years Eni has been channelling a vast amount of resources and energy into the research and development of its products, while ensuring that the environment is always respected. For this reason, Agip sales outlets offer the possibility of filling up natural-gas-fuelled vehicles.

Natural gas prolongs the life of an engine, notably reduces harmful exhaust emissions, does not produce fine particulate matter and contains the lowest amount of carbon among all currently available fuels, which means that it also contributes to reducing CO2 emissions.

The benefits of natural gas fuel for vehicles mean that it is particularly appreciated in urban areas, with the result that natural-gas-fuelled vehicles are the subject of government incentives including discounts on the price of buying or converting cars to run on natural gas, reductions in car tax and no restrictions on using such vehicles in city centres.

The price of natural gas fuel is extremely competitive, based on the ratio of 1 kg of natural gas being equivalent to approximately 1.5 litres of petrol in terms of performance. Natural gas is generally stored in vehicles in multiple tanks made out of steel or composite material, where it is always kept in the form of gas, even when compressed, and compared with LPG it requires a larger storage area. In terms of safety, natural gas is comparable to diesel, since any eventual leakage rapidly disappears into the air, and there are no limits imposed on natural-gas-fuelled cars in underground car parks.

Refuelling takes approximately 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the tank and customers can use special do-it-yourself pumps, provided that the vehicle has an NGV-standard European fuel attachment.

Biomass natural gas is classified as a sustainable fuel, and in the future natural gas will be available in a liquid state, for example for heavy-duty vehicles, and mixed with hydrogen, the real "blue natural gas" with even better environmentally friendly characteristics.