134 tonnes of CO₂ already saved

Swiss IT service provider BNC Business Network Communications AG is continuing to work at full throttle and is expanding its CNG fleet with four brand-new Skoda Octavia estate cars. Thanks to the biogas in the tank, BNC not only saves money, but also significantly reduces CO₂ emissions, kilometre after kilometre.

Thomas Gygax, Chief Financial Officer at BNC, together with René Grünig, owner and managing director of Garage R. Grünig AG in Münchenbuchsee (Canton of Bern), during the vehicle handover. Source: BNC

The Swiss IT service provider BNC Business Network Communications AG, which has been managed since 1 July 2021 by co-CEOs Patrik Schilt and Joël Viallon, has been committed to sustainability for many years. This is why the company, which has now grown to over 80 employees and is also responsible for the development and expansion of managed services in the areas of network, security and cloud & data centres, also relies on CNG vehicles. A fleet of 17 CNG-powered Skoda Octavia cars has already been on Swiss roads since 2018. And this in a virtually CO₂-neutral manner, because the IT experts at BNC fill up with biogas!

The rear of one of the four new Skoda Octavia station wagons, which will now be almost CO₂-neutral on the road for the Swiss IT experts at BNC thanks to biogas. Source: BNC

Thomas Gygax, CFO of BNC Business Network Communications AG, keeps a detailed account. The kilometres travelled and the refuelling processes are recorded and evaluated using an app. “In the two-and-a-half years of operating our 17 CNG Skodas, we have been able to achieve savings of around 134 tonnes of CO₂ compared to pure petrol operation,” explains Gygax. “This corresponds to the natural absorption of CO₂  by a forested area spanning 12 football pitches.” Although this is impressive, it is not yet enough for BNC Business Network Communications AG, which is why the vehicle fleet has now been expanded.

The four BNC employees Rainer Stockmeier, Boris Jenni, Mischa Pfister and Achille Vaz with their new CNG Skodas. Source: BNC

Logically, CNG vehicles were once again chosen. This is why four more Skoda Octavia G-TEC vehicles have been added to the Swiss IT service provider’s fleet, albeit from the new model generation. The 1.5-litre CNG engine in the stylish estate car has an output of 96 kW (130 hp) and 200 Nm. The three CNG tanks installed in the underbody hold a total of 17.7 kg. A nine-litre petrol tank ensures mobility, even in regions without a comprehensive supply of CNG/biogas. However, the four employees who received the CNG vehicles from Garage R. Grüning AG in Münchenbuchsee (Canton of Bern) will try to fill up with petrol as little as possible and, thanks to biogas, will be primarily on the road in a climate-neutral manner.  (jas, 20 January 2022)