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Compressed natural gas (CNG) is considered as one of the most promising alternative fuels for transportation due to its ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its abundance. More specifically, CNG has a considerable potential when used as a dedicated fuel on a downsized turbo-charged SI engine for a small urban vehicle. This approach can be profitably extended by adding a small secondary (electrical) power source to the CNG engine, thus hybridizing the powertrain. This is why IFP has developed a mild-hybrid CNG prototype vehicle based on a MCC smart car equipped with a starter-alternator and ultra-capacitors (the StARS system). This solution offers some interesting functions such as “Stop'n'Start”, regenerative braking, torque boosting and engine assistance, and yields significant benefits in terms of fuel economy, reduced exhaust emissions and better driveability.