Fewer than 100 vehicles in Finland powered by natural gas

Alternative fuel raising more interest among motorists

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There are currently fewer than 100 vehicles powered by natural gas in Finland, and 75 of them are buses.
      Nevertheless, gas-powered cars have started to raise interest among ordinary motorists as well. The number of gas vehicles is expected to jump by about 1,000 a year. If this happens, it will bring considerable pressure to establish a viable distribution network.
      So far, the only filling station offering natural gas is in Tattarisuo in the north of Helsinki. Another one will open in Hakaniemi in the centre of Helsinki later this year.
     
In addition to the 75 public buses that are fuelled by natural gas, there are between 10 and 20 private cars that use the relatively clean fuel.
      More buses using natural gas are being taken into use, in spite of the higher price of the vehicles, and the attitude of the state, which has been less than encouraging.
      Bus companies are also angered by the decision by the Helsinki Rescue Department to ban buses powered by natural gas from the new Kamppi underground bus terminal in the centre of Helsinki. The companies are demanding a reversal of the decision.
     
There is still a long way to go before the forecast of the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT), of an annual growth of 1,000 natural gas vehicles a year, will come to pass. Most of the growth is expected to take place in the Helsinki region, where there is direct access to gas coming in from Siberia.
      One pioneer in natural gas technology is the bus company Tammelundin Liikenne, which has been operating gas-powered buses since 1996. The oldest vehicles already have over a million kilometres on the odometer.
      "The price of natural gas is just right, and the parts of the bus depot that are used by the gas-powered vehicles are clean", says the company’s CEO Launo Elers.
     
The price of natural gas at the self-service filling station of Suomen kaasuenergia, a subsidiary of the natural gas importer and distributor Gasum, was EUR 0.90 a kilo this week. The tank of a station wagon that was almost empty took 15 kilos, costing EUR 13. This is enough to take the vehicle 250 kilometres in urban traffic, and up to 350 kilometres on rural highways.
      If the natural gas runs out where none is available nearby, the driver can switch to ordinary petrol at the press of a button. The petrol tank can take about 30 litres.
      "This is nothing dramatic. It is just like driving with gasoline", says Matti Sovijärvi after testing the car. "There is a fun pioneering spirit filling up with natural gas. You always get into good conversations with other natural gas drivers."
     
Jussi Vainikka, head of sales at Gasum, got himself a used Volvo from Sweden, where natural gas cars have been manufactured for ten years.
      "My car still has the right to free parking in Gothenburg, and has access to bus lanes", he explains. He would like to see similar incentives enacted Finland as well.
      Until last year, the state actually penalised owners of cars powered by natural gas with a special tax.
      Gasum hopes to raise the number of natural gas filling stations to more than ten in the near future. In addition to the Tattarisuo station, and the new one which will be opening in Hakaniemi soon, Gasum is looking for a good location for a third one.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland lags behind other EU countries in developing bio-fuel for transport (3.10.2005)

Links:
  Gasum web site

Helsingin Sanomat