CNG

"TUT Project" – A Thousand Ecological Taxis in Berlin

"TUT – Tausend Umwelt-Taxis für Berlin" (A Thousand Ecological Taxis in Berlin) is a joint project of the Federal Ministry of the Environment, the Berlin Senate, and the gas corporations GASAG, Ruhrgas AG, and Verbundnetz Gas AG.

The aim of the project is to operate a thousand taxis and a hundred driving-school vehicles powered by natural gas in Berlin. Launched in October 2004, the project is expected to cost 11 million euros. To ensure a rapid start, an incentive program has been introduced. The first 400 cabdrivers and 40 driving schools that start using natural gas will receive a subsidy of EUR 3,100 from the Federal Ministry of the Environment for the purchase of a new CNG vehicle. The 401st to 700th drivers will receive EUR 2,600, and the 701st to 1,000th drivers will get EUR 2,050. In addition, the Berlin-based gas company GASAG will give drivers from the first (1-400 taxis, 1-40 driving schools), second (401-700, 41-70), and third groups (701-1,000, 71-100), free natural gas worth EUR 1,500, 1,000, and 500 respectively.

The contributions will be disbursed on the condition that a vehicle meets the EURO IV standard, is operated mostly in Berlin for two years, and promotes the use of natural gas as a motor fuel through a sign on the hood.
The most frequently used natural gas vehicles are the Volvo S80, Volvo V70, Opel Zafira 1.6 CNG, Ford Focus Futura, and Fiat Multipla Bipower. "TUT" cars are labeled with a green flag bearing the legend "Ich tanke Erdgas".
Berlin currently has 12 CNG fuel stations, which are part of the traditional outlets of TotalFinaElf, DEA, ARAL, BP, Shell, Sprint, and Esso.
 
For more information on the project, visit www.tut-berlin.de

Location of CNG stations in Berlin