Volkswagen has fundamentally reworked its natural gas models Polo and Golf TGI 3 with, among other things, a third natural gas tank. This allows the Polo TGI 2 in pure CNG operation an additional range of up to 60 kilometers compared to its predecessor. With the Golf TGI, the gain in range adds up to 80 kilometers. At the same time, a new 1.5 liter TGI four-cylinder engine with 96 kW / 130 hp provides more driving pleasure in the Golf. Driving with natural gas significantly reduces CO 2 emissions, and even better CO 2 performance results from refueling with biomethane or e-gas. Biomethane is derived from plant residues, e-gas from excess green power (power-to-gas), which are added to the fuels. Operations with these renewable forms of methane are often even negative in CO 2
Economic benefits for this units vary from country to country. In Germany, for example, the cost advantage over a diesel currently stands at about 20 percent and compared to a petrol engine it reaches 40 percent. It is understandable that drivers of natural gas vehicles only want to resort to gasoline in exceptional cases. Volkswagen has therefore equipped its natural gas models Polo TGI 2 and Golf TGI 3 with a third natural gas tank. The Golf has a volume of 23 liters taking the total storage to 115 liters which holds 17.3 kg of natural gas ( 23,3 m3 ), which allows a range of up to 422 kilometers.
In the Polo with 1.0-three-cylinder engine (66 kW / 90 hp) 2 , the volume of the additional tank is 16.5 liters and extends the natural gas storage to a total of 91.5 liter, for storing 13.8 kg( 18,6 m3 ), so that the Polo can travel up to 368 kilometers with CNG. Both models still have a small gasoline tank as reserve.
Greater driving dynamics and efficiency in the Golf TGI 3 are provided by a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine. Its fuel consumption is just 3.6-3.5 kg of natural gas per 100 kilometers with a CO 2 emission of only 98-95 g / km. The Golf's new 1.5 l TGI engine uses the innovative 12.5: 1 high-compression TGI-Miller combustion technology to increase efficiency and reduce CO 2 emissions. An exhaust gas turbocharger with variable turbine geometry increases the boost pressure and brings more air into the cylinders. This allows the 1.5 liter TGI engine to accelerate at any time from low revs.
Driving with natural gas not only protects the wallet, but also the environment. Compared to gasoline or diesel, natural gas contains a significantly higher amount of energy and a lower carbon content. That's why around 25 percent less CO 2 emissions are produced in CNG operation than when driving on gasoline. In addition, natural gas generally burns less emissions than gasoline or diesel. The exhaust gas contains significantly less carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (NOx), and the particulate matter or fine dust is minimal.