REDEXIS AND CEPSA EXTEND THEIR FIRST NATURAL GAS REFUELING STATION TO LIGHT VEHICLES

The Cepsa Service Station in Puerto Lumbreras has launched a compressed natural gas facility for light vehicles, boasting a refueling time of between three and six minutes
This station already has a pump capable of supplying liquefied natural gas to all kinds of heavy vehicles
Redexis and Cepsa have extended their first natural gas refueling station, which opened in March, to light vehicles. The refueling station is located at exit 649 of the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7), where it passes Puerto Lumbreras (Murcia).

The station has a pump capable of supplying light vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG) with a refueling time of between three and six minutes. CNG is an alternative that is being incorporated in short- and medium-distance transport vehicles, light commercial vehicles and cars. In addition, this vehicular natural gas station can already refuel all kinds of heavy vehicles with liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The gas station is located on the main route connecting Barcelona and Algeciras, making it a strategic point for the transportation of goods, with between 5,000 and 8,000 heavy vehicles traveling through every day. It is also an important communication hub for light vehicles traveling between Andalusia and Levante.

Redexis has invested close to 1 million euro in the construction of the station.

Belén Mateo, Director of Cepsa Service Station Franchising and Direct Management, stressed: “At Cepsa we aim to bring value to our customers by offering all kinds of energy solutions by diversifying our offerings. We continue to make progress in the energy transition by consolidating Spain’s largest gas mobility network for both light and heavy vehicles.”

Javier Migoya, Director of Tertiary and Industrial Expansion (B2B) at Redexis, said: “At Redexis, we welcome the expansion into light vehicle refueling of this first gas station with Cepsa, which continues to support essential energy infrastructure to ensure that both professionals and the public can rely on mobility solutions that are more economical, more sustainable and more environmentally friendly. At Redexis, we continue to make progress on our strong commitment to promoting natural gas as a viable alternative for sustainable mobility.”

In June 2019, Redexis and Cepsa reached an agreement to create the largest network of LNG and CNG refueling stations in Spain, with the aim of expanding the energy solutions that they offer and promoting sustainable mobility. As part of that agreement, Redexis committed to invest 30 million euro between 2019 and 2021 for the construction and maintenance of 50 gas refueling points at Cepsa Service Stations, with Cepsa taking responsibility for supply and sales. Within the next two years, the two companies plan to have a total of 80 supply facilities, with investment totaling 60 million euro.

With this development, Cepsa continues to expand the mobility-oriented energy solutions that it offers at its Service Stations, where it also provides a multitude of other products and services. Cepsa currently has over 1.5 million customers—of which 300,000 are professionals—and a wide network of more than 1,500 Service Stations in Spain, which employ a well-defined model focused on the customer, innovation, added value, safety and loyalty.

Advantages of vehicular natural gas

Vehicular gas is a viable alternative for sustainable mobility, with low CO2 emissions and no oxide or sulfur particle emissions, as well as cutting nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 85%. Its use helps to improve air quality and reduce noise in cities. VNG vehicles are just as safe and equally as powerful as vehicles with other combustion engines. They can also be driven in high-pollution areas because their windshield bears the ECO card from the Spanish DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico — Directorate General of Traffic), which is a huge plus when driving through large cities with traffic restrictions in place. VNG vehicles are suitable for all types of mobility: urban, intercity or long-distance driving.

They are also cost-competitive because, as well as giving drivers discounts or reductions on their road tax, VNG reduces the cost per kilometer by 30% compared to diesel and 50% compared to gasoline, for both light and heavy vehicles. These models boast an impressive range: they can travel up to 1,300 kilometers without refueling thanks to their bi-fuel gas/gasoline tanks.