First Seat Leon TGIs leave Martorell

First SEAT Leon TGIs leave MartorellThe first corporate fleet of the Leon TGI* left the SEAT production plant in Martorell this morning. Ramón Paredes, the Vice-President of Governmental and Institutional Relations of SEAT and the Volkswagen Group in Spain, handed over six units of the SEAT Leon TGI –running on both compressed natural gas (CNG) and petrol – to Antonio Murugó, President of the HAM group.

The HAM group President highlighted the fact that “Having acquired these SEAT Leons powered by compressed natural gas, I can truthfully say that they are yet another element in helping us to deliver on HAM’s commitment – undertaken four years ago – to make exclusive use of vehicles powered by alternative fuels other than diesel and petrol, energy sources that are cleaner and more eco-friendly. It is all the more gratifying to be able to do this with vehicles built by our neighbours SEAT at its Martorell production plant”.

For SEAT “today is an important day for our commitment to both customers and sustainability. The first Leon CNG corporate fleet in Spain is now a reality thanks to HAM. HAM is a business group which is not only a benchmark for the gas industry, but also intends – like SEAT – to continue deepening its commitment to CNG mobility over the next few months”, commented Ramón Paredes.

The Leon 1.4 TGI – now joining the Mii Ecofuel, the brand’s most sustainable city car – is the most recent example of SEAT’s commitment to CNG. The SEAT Leon TGI is one of the most fuel-efficient models on the market, and has a range of 1,360 kilometres non-stop with both fuel tanks full. In gas-only mode, the most fuel-efficient and eco-friendly option, the range is 420 kilometres; a 50-litre petrol tank adds another 940 kilometres, giving this vehicle the longest range in its segment.

The Leon TGI can cover a distance of 100 kilometres for just 3.50€ at the current price for compressed natural gas. This means that a trip from Barcelona to Madrid costs approximately 20€ – a saving of 30% compared to the same distance on diesel fuel, and 50% compared to petrol. CNG technology also helps reduce CO2 emissions by 25% in comparison with traditional fuels such as petrol. In the case of the Leon TGI, CO2 emissions are 94 g/km.

The car brand markets CNG vehicles in markets like Germany, Italy, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where an adequate infrastructure can meet the demand for compressed natural gas. In Spain the company launched its most fuel-efficient CNG vehicles at the beginning of the year: the Mii Ecofuel** (SEAT’s lowest-emissions vehicle at 79 g/km) and the Leon TGI.

CNG: Compressed Natural Gas as an automotive fuel.
TGI: SEAT commercial name for TSI engines propelled by natural gas

The HAM Group, (headquarters Abrera, Barcelona) founded in 1986, and present in more than 11 countries, is a group of service companies dedicated to the world of technical gases. One of its core businessses is the engineering and construction of regasification plants for, as well as marketing and transport of, liquefied natural gas. Its network of public natural gas service stations – of which it has built more than 30 over the past few years – extends all over Spain. It carries out all its activities to the highest standards of quality, safety and respect for the environment.

One of the HAM Group’s goals is to develop the market of natural gas as a much less expensive and less polluting alternative fuel.

Fully in line with its commitment to environmental protection, HAM’s current goods transport fleet comprises 160 heavy vehicles, 90 of which are powered by natural gas; all its cars and light commercial vehicles also use natural gas, resulting in major financial and energy savings.