July 19, 2011
Source: Audi of America
The Audi A3 TCNG, which will enter series production in 2013, will run on e-gas the same synthetic methane gas which the brand with the four rings will manufacture itself via wind energy as part of the e-gas project.
The 1.4 TFSI engine and the exhaust systems catalytic converter were modified for e-gas driving. The high octane rating of approx. 130 RON for this fuel facilitates a high compression ratio, which ensures high efficiency. The two steel cylinders beneath the luggage compartment store the gas at a pressure of 200 bar, which suffices for over 400 km (248.55 miles) of driving. Thanks to its bivalent configuration, the A3 Sportback TCNG can run on conventional gasoline if it runs out of methane; its total range thus exceeds 1,200 km (745.65 miles).
Compared to premium unleaded, the combustion of e-gas leads to far lower exhaust-pipe CO2 emissions. The life cycle assessment across the entire fuel chain is even more impressive: Every gram of carbon dioxide emitted by the Audi A3 TCNG had been incorporated from surrounding air during the production of e-gas.
The life cycle assessment is excellent even if one includes the CO2 emitted during the construction of engineering facilities. A well-to-wheel analysis shows that a compact car which runs on e-gas emits the equivalent of just 27 grams of CO2 per kilometer (43.45 g/mile) not much more than an electric car which runs on green power.
Via the balanced cycle method similar to the purchasing of green power A3 TCNG owners will be able to fill up their tanks with fuel produced via wind energy. When a driver refuels with e-gas, the corresponding amount of renewable energy required to produce said e-gas is fed into the grid.
|
