Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel

26 February, 2009 07:25:00

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Volkswagen has launched the Caddy EcoFuel, the only compact panel van in UK to be powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).

The larger Caddy Maxi EcoFuel, offering an extra 1.0 m3 of loadspace, will be introduced simultaneously as another practical, alternatively-fuelled choice for green-conscious van operators.

The Caddy EcoFuel has been developed as part of Volkswagen’s broad environmental research program. It went on sale in Europe in 2006 where 7,500 examples were sold last year.

There are two key benefits of operating a CNG-powered vehicle:

- Lower, cleaner emissions

- Reduced fuel costs (CNG is approximately 50 percent less than diesel)

The greatest environmental benefit of using CNG as a fuel is the dramatic reduction of exhaust gases; for example, compared to the equivalent TDI engine carbon monoxide (CO) emissions are over 50 percent lower, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are 97 percent lower, and there are zero particulates.

The innovative engine in the Caddy EcoFuel is a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter petrol unit which has been optimized to efficiently use CNG or petrol. It has CO2 emissions of 157 g/km, over 20 percent lower than a conventional petrol engine.

It produces 109 PS and 118 lbs ft of torque at 3,500 rpm, with a five-speed manual transmission, and is able to go from a standstill to 62 mph in 13.8 seconds, before reaching a top speed of 105 mph. There is no reduction of performance compared to the nearest equivalent conventionally-fuelled engine in the Caddy range, the 1.9-liter TDI PD, which delivers 104PS, 184 lbs ft of torque at 1,900 rpm, a 0-62 mph time of 13.3 seconds and top speed of 103 mph.

The engine can operate on biomethane, a sustainable fuel that is now becoming commercially available from renewable sources, or CNG, which is the same gas we use for our heating and cooking at home. It also has a 13-liter petrol tank as a reserve, which is automatically and smoothly engaged should the gas supply run out.

The steel gas tanks do not intrude on the Caddy’s load volume of 3.2m3 as they are mounted beneath the vehicle. Depending on how the Caddy EcoFuel is driven and the payload carried, the 26 kg capacity of gas offers a range of around 270 miles or, if combined with the petrol reserve, a range of over 350 miles. This is more than adequate for most operators, and ideal for back-to-base fleets that are able to install an on-site CNG refueling facility. The Caddy Maxi EcoFuel’s larger gas tanks offer a range of 350 miles, plus 80 miles from the petrol tank – making a total of 430 miles.

Comprehensive safety systems include extremely strong steel gas tanks which have proved to be heat-resistant and virtually indestructible in extreme testing. In the event of an accident, electro-magnetic valves with triple protection prevent any gas escaping, which provide the same benefit if the vehicle were to be driven off while it is being refuelled.

Full details, including prices and technical specifications, for the Caddy EcoFuel and Caddy Maxi EcoFuel will be released in late spring.

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