CNG begins in Romania

© NGV RomaniaTo achieve anything, you have to start first. Romania has just taken its initial step on the way to CNG future. Good luck!

First time lucky

Antares Motors, a conversion shop using Bigas and Emmegas components for its work, fitted a compressed natural gas system (by Bigas in this particular case) on a current-generation Suzuki Vitara with a 1,6-litre, Euro 6-compliant engine generating 120 PS of power. CNG conversions will become commercially available sometime in 2018 at the company's Bosch Car Service technological centre in Ramnicu Valcea. If the facility proves successful, similar ones will be launched in Bucharest and Timisoara.

The network is set to grow

According to the CNG development strategy, at least one conversion and maintenance shop is to be launched in each city where methane refueling stations are planned. The latter are scheduled to be built – under the CNG Romania project – in Bucharest, Timisoara, Constanta, Pitesti, Arad, Deva, Sibiu, Craiova and Drobeta-Turnu Severin. Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will in time follow the small Vitara crossover, as there is already interest in CNG conversions among operators of city transport and municipal fleets.