Starting on 1 October 2009 companies and individuals in The Hague became eligible for a € 1,000 subsidy for the purchase of a new vehicle running on natural gas.
Prior to October the subsidy was valid only for people in Delft, Zoetermeer, Rijswijk, Wassenaar, Westland, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Pijnacker-Nootdorp and Midden-Delfland. Driving on natural gas or biogas is often cheaper than diesel or petrol.
Cleaner air
The City Region of Haaglanden (Stadsgewest Haaglanden) is subsidising natural gas vehicles because it improves the air quality in the region. Cars which operate on natural gas release 75% less toxic soot and nitrogen oxide emissions than petrol, diesel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
‘The City Region of Haaglanden is making a contribution towards combating global warming and ensuring that the air in the region is cleaner,’ said Christiaan van der Kamp, the regional director for Environment.
Future
Biogas consists mostly of a gas called methane, which is the same as ‘natural gas’. A natural-gas vehicle can thus also run on biogas without having to make any modifications.
A vehicle which runs on biogas on average produces 90% less CO2 (CO2 is responsible for global warming). Because biogas is produced from garbage, it is not necessary to use agricultural land or to transport raw materials from far-off places.