Volkswagen Caddy Ecofuel at Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is set to exhibit a prototype of its gas-powered Caddy EcoFuel at Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008, a one-day-only Green Motor Show in Liverpool on 12th June showcasing the latest energy efficient vehicles.

The Volkswagen Caddy EcoFuel is an alternatively fuelled vehicle that can operate on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or biomethane. Developed as a result of Volkswagen’s environmental research programme, and produced in the same factory as the rest of the Caddy range, it is already on sale in mainland Europe and planned to be introduced to the UK later this year.

The Caddy EcoFuel at the Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 is the first right-hand-drive (RHD) prototype and is being used for a UK pilot scheme in response to customer enquiries for alternatively fuelled vehicles.

The key benefits of operating a CNG-powered vehicle are lower and cleaner emissions, plus reduced fuel costs (CNG costs significantly less than petrol or diesel).

The Caddy EcoFuel features a 2.0-litre 109 PS petrol engine which operates primarily on compressed natural gas (CNG) with a small petrol reserve, giving a total range of around 350 miles.

A fully integrated design and production process means the conversion of the vehicle is better-resolved. For example, the gas filling point is incorporated behind the existing fuel filling cap, and there is an additional electronic fuel gauge display set into the display on the dashboard.

Similarly, the gas tanks do not impact on the Caddy EcoFuel’s loadspace as they are safely secured under the vehicle and have been fully crash tested. The gas tanks hold 26 kg of CNG; the additional weight means there is a small reduction in payload to 665 kg, compared with 720-724 kg for the rest of the Caddy van range.

The Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 event is a one day Green Motor Show designed to showcase low emission vehicles to businesses and other organisations with vehicle fleets, and takes place in the Arena part of the new ACC (Arena and Convention Centre) Liverpool, next to the south side of the Albert Dock. Admission is only possible by pre-registration at www.Green-Car-Guide.com.