Other sustainable SEATs, powered by Compressed Natural Gas

Electric cars are considered the future of sustainable mobility, although we know that there are other alternative fuels that are available on the market and that also have their place in the range of vehicles that do not use traditional fuels. These are vehicles that pollute much less than traditional ones and that enjoy a series of advantages when it comes to taxes and traffic restrictions in large cities such as Madrid and Barcelona.

Cars powered by Compressed Natural Gas can drive on Madrid’s M30 when there are restrictions For example, cars powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) can drive on Madrid’s M30 even at times when pollution-related restrictions are in force in the city. In addition, they get a 75% discount on the Vehicle Circulation Tax in Madrid and Barcelona, a percentage that may vary in other regions where it also applies. Moreover, if you park in Madrid’s blue zone, there is a 50% discount for less polluting vehicles, as these are.

If we talk about Catalonia, there are also incentives to encourage their use. For example, there are discounts on the tolls operated by the Generalitat, which is quite interesting for those who regularly travel on the motorways and expressways of this Autonomous Community. The Generalitat also provides a 750-euro bonus when buying one of these vehicles in any of the municipalities located in the ZEPA zone, as their low level of pollution is rewarded. In addition, cars powered by Compressed Natural Gas are also allowed to drive freely in the HOV lane, which is normally reserved for urban transport and high-occupancy vehicles.

These advantages are repeated in other autonomous communities, which may include different ones, but which make a difference compared with traditional vehicles. Furthermore, filling a tank with Compressed Natural Gas is cheaper than filling one with petrol. SEAT has offered a comparison between three variants of the SEAT León, equipped with various engines, to show the difference in performance between a car running on CNG, a diesel and a petrol one.

SEAT versions with CNG

SEAT has several models with a CNG version that deliver very good results In the example given by the manufacturer, with 20 euros of fuel, the León 1.6 TDI diesel of 115 CV can travel 500 kilometres, while with the same amount of petrol, the León 1.2 TSI of 110 CV would cover 355 kilometres. With the same amount of CNG, the León 1.4 TGI of 110 CV could travel 805 kilometres, with noticeably lower emissions than either of the other two versions.

This version of the SEAT León has two tanks: one petrol tank with a capacity to cover 900 kilometres and another, located under the floor of the boot, with a capacity to drive for 400 kilometres. The engine runs on gas until it is depleted and then switches to petrol, without this being noticeable in any way. The change is displayed on the on-board computer so that the driver is aware of the fuel switch.

The price of the TGT version is similar to that of the 1.2 TSI 110 CV version, which is priced at 15,150 euros, so there is no need to pay a larger sum to have this greener version. The Spanish brand also offers a version of the Mii that runs on this fuel, for those who prefer a greener city car.