Bio-CNG as an alternative to electricity?
Electricity only has a good carbon footprint as long as it is not produced from fossil fuels. The situation is completely different with biogas, which is produced from renewable raw materials and therefore always has a good carbon footprint. Is biogas ultimately the better alternative to electric?
CNG is the abbreviation for “Compressed Natural Gas” and is produced from fossil natural gas. In contrast, bio-CNG is produced from renewable raw materials. Biomethane is not only climate-neutral in production, because it also emits only as much carbon dioxide during combustion as plants do during photosynthesis. Compared to diesel cars, they emit 97 percent less carbon dioxide. But nitrogen and particulate matter are also blown into the air in considerably smaller quantities when only biogas is burned.
Biomethane is produced from renewable raw materials and waste. Silages from maize and other grains, straw, liquid manure or organic residues are used. Another advantage is that the climate-neutral gas can be fed directly into the grid and does not have to be transported by truck to the filling stations. This saves additional fuel. However, not all of the 900 or so filling stations that already offer natural gas also sell 100-percent biomethane. But even filling up with natural gas containing only 20 percent biomethane is much more environmentally friendly than filling up with diesel or petrol
A car running on biomethane can drive about 500 kilometres, and methane is also up to 40 percent cheaper than petrol or diesel. Electric cars are not necessarily more polluting than vehicles running on biogas. But electric vehicles will only be a real competitor to biogas-powered vehicles when 100 percent of the energy for electric cars is generated from renewable sources. But this is still a long way off in Germany. Another plus point in favour of biogas is its relative safety. In the event of an accident, the gas is simply released by means of a safety valve and no longer poses any danger because it quickly evaporates.
But regardless of whether one switches to an electric vehicle or one with a biologically based gas drive, in view of the many existing environmental zones in Europe, a switch is advantageous. Because while the rules for petrol and diesel vehicles are becoming stricter, they do not apply to cars with an electric or gas drive.