Is it therefore possible to reach the North Cape using only biomethane? In the summer of 2022, the answer is almost yes, given that the car driven by Guido Guerrini and Fabio Cofferati for the Bio-CNG European Tour, which has the support of Piccini Paolo Spa, Snam4Mobility, WGMC and NGV Italy, managed to cover 93% of the journey using only clean energy.
The 841 kilometers of distance between the last Swedish petrol station, in Boden, and the northernmost road on the European continent are still excessive. Going up from Finland the situation is similar, given that from Oulu to the North Cape the part without biomethane is over 900 kilometers. Those who are more attentive to this issue will say that Guerrini and Cofferati could have chosen a car with greater autonomy, but the two travelers and their sponsors had previously clarified their desire to make the trip using a normal car such as those available to any Italian family.
Of the 4,620 kilometers traveled from Tuscany to the North Cape, 4,267 were made using only biomethane; while 353 kilometers, the last before arrival, with traditional fuels. The route was not the shortest but had to take into account numerous detours in order to be able to refuel approximately every 350-400 kilometers. To this must be added the choice made during the trip not to use ferries in order to reach the North Cape, at least on the outward journey, something that has finally been possible thanks to the bridges between the Danish islands, the one between Copenhagen and Malmo and the submarine tunnel just before the island of Mageroya.
There were 12 “full” biomethane tanks with an average price of €2.20. The cheapest refueling took place in Germany (0.99 per kg) while the most expensive in Denmark (3.50). With a driving that was respectful of speed limits but always at a brisk pace, Guerrini and Cofferati covered an average of 30.6 kilometers with one kilogram of natural gas.
The return journey will have some similar aspects to the outward journey starting from the fact that the biomethane filling stations will have to be searched one by one. From Oulu in Finland, just below the polar circle and overlooking the Gulf of Bothnia, the vehicle resumed its journey through Finnish lands before moving to Sweden by sea and continuing on to Denmark, Germany, Austria and Italy. This trip, which is expected to end this weekend, will be slower and with the desire to increase the mileage, approaching the 10,000 kilometer ceiling and then assess the real percentage of the part made with biomethane.
Source: Associazione Torino-Pechino
