Thread: Geneva motor show: Audi to stun with A3 g-tron

Gas-powered A3 could pave way to carbon-neutral motoring thanks to Audi's revolutionary e-gas tech. Audi will showcase a gas-powered A3 at the Geneva motor show. The A3 Sportback g-tron has been created in conjunction with Audi's new e-gas plant in Werlte, which produces carbon-neutral gas from renewable electricity.
The g-tron's powertrain comprises two gas tanks and a regular internal combustion engine. The tanks can store e-gas produced by Audi, or regular Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).
Stored under the boot floor, the Audi's tanks can hold 7kg of gas each, stored at up to 200bar. Audi claims a fuel consumption on gas for the g-tron of 3. 5kg/100 km, giving a gas-only range of 400km (242 miles).
Using gas means that each fuel tank weighs, when full, 27kg less than a conventional petrol or diesel fuel tank. Constructed from a polyamide polymer and reinforced with carbonfibre-reinforced polymer, the tanks are extremely strong and light.
An electronic pressure regulator boosts the efficiency of the A3 g-tron when running on gas. It allows for low-pressure gas to be combusted during low-speed driving, while also allowing it to flow at high pressure when greater performance is required.
The petrol engine in the A3 g-tron is based on the 1. 4 TFSI found in the A3 range and produces 108bhp and 147lb ft. Audi says the concept is bivalent, meaning performance is identical regardless of fuel; top speed is 118mph and 0-62mph takes 11 seconds. The range of the engine, running on petrol, is 900km (559 miles).
The A3 g-tron is part of a wider project from Audi involving its e-gas facility in Werlte. It uses renewable electricity to produce gas through the electrolysis of water, making hydrogen and oxygen, and the reaction of the hydrogen with CO2 to produce synthetic methane which Audi calls e-gas. The e-gas is chemically identical to natural gas.

Audi will use the e-gas to power 1500 A3 g-trons, each of which will cover 15000km a year in trials. Even when the emissions for constructing the e-gas plant are accounted for, Audi claims a CO2 figure of less than 30 g/km.