A3 TCNG will be fuelled by E-gas, defined as synthetic gas produced via the methanation of hydrogen produced by electrolysis from renewable sources of energy. As Audi describes it, A3 TCNG refuels with E-gas.
E-gas has an octane rating of around 130 RON that allows Audi to use an elevated compression ratio in the A3 TCNG’s turbocharged engine, which – in turn – returns optimal fuel efficiency. The A3 TCNG will also be equipped with bivalent configuration, thereby enabling it to run on conventional gasoline in demanding times, without any compromise on all-round performance.
The A3 TCNG is part of Audi’s E-gas project, which was launched recently by the automaker in North German city of Hamburg. The E-gas project, after 3 years of extensive research, has attained its practical phase. It uses wind-generated electricity to extract hydrogen by means of electrolysis, which in turn, has the potential to be used as a source of energy for fuel-cell vehicles or converted to methane.
The German automaker hopes that the e-gas project will provide a solution to store the surplus wind energy from turbines and thus promoting charging of vehicle with the ‘green power.’