Natural gas vehicles can drive real change in America. NGVs are cost efficient, safe and dramatically better for the environment than gasoline-powered vehicles. And, just as important, the use of natural gas for transportation helps America reduce its dependence on foreign oil.
| About Natural Gas Vehicles | [-] |
| Benefits of Natural Gas Vehicles | [-] |
Petroleum Displacement
The United States spends about $1.7 billion a day to pay for foreign oil. That’s why making America less dependent on foreign oil is a national priority. Congress, on record as strongly supporting reduction of petroleum use, and has passed a number of pieces of legislation to incentivize Americans to move to non-petroleum fuels. While in 2005, the U.S. imported over 65 percent of the oil it used, 97 percent of the natural gas used in the U.S. was produced in North America (85 percent from the U.S. and 12 percent from Canada). Every gallon equivalent of natural gas used in vehicles is one less gallon of petroleum that has to be imported.
Urban Emissions
Exhaust emissions from a typical NGV are much lower than those from gasoline-powered vehicles. For example, the natural gas-powered Honda Civic GX is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the cleanest commercially available, internal-combustion vehicle on earth. The Civic GX is rated by the California Air Resources Board as meeting the very stringent AT-PZEV standard. In addition, dedicated NGVs produce little or no evaporative emissions during fueling and use. In gasoline vehicles, evaporative and fueling emissions account for at least 50 percent of a vehicle’s total hydrocarbon emissions.
Typical dedicated NGVs can reduce exhaust emissions of:
Natural gas vehicles also produce far less urban emissions than diesel vehicles. For example, even when the stringent 2007 EPA heavy-duty engine emission standards become applicable, NGVs will be producing only one-sixth of the NOX of comparable diesel engines.
Greenhouse Gases
Per unit of energy, natural gas contains less carbon than any other fossil fuel, and thus produces lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per vehicle mile traveled. While NGVs do emit methane, another principle greenhouse gas, any increase in methane emissions is more than offset by a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions compared to other fuels. Tests have shown that NGVs produce up to 20 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than comparable gasoline vehicles and up to 15 percent less than comparable diesel vehicles.
Safety
Compressed natural gas (CNG) unlike gasoline dissipates into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. Gasoline pools on the ground creating a fire hazard.
The fuel storage cylinders used in NGVs are much stronger than gasoline fuel tanks. The design of NGV cylinders are subjected to a number of federally required “severe abuse” tests, such as heat and pressure extremes, gunfire, collisions and fires.
NGV fuel systems are “sealed”, which prevents spills or evaporative losses. Even if a leak were to occur in an NGV fuel system, the natural gas would dissipate up into the air because it is lighter than air.
Natural gas has a high ignition temperature, about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, compared with about 600 degrees Fahrenheit for gasoline. It also has a narrow range of flammability, that is, in concentrations in air below about 5 percent and above 15 percent, natural gas will not burn. The high ignition temperature and limited flammability range make accidental ignition or combustion of natural gas unlikely.
Natural gas is not toxic or corrosive and will not contaminate ground water.
| NGVs in Commercial Use | [-] |
Until an area develops an adequate natural gas fueling station infrastructure (as in Southern California), NGVs are most practical for fleets. Fleets generally operate a number of vehicles that are centrally maintained and fueled. They also travel more miles daily than the average personal use vehicle and therefore can take better advantage of the lower price per gallon of natural gas. Among the fleets where use of NGVs is already growing is:
| NGVs in Residential Use | [-] |
There are a number of manufacturers that offer factory-built natural gas trucks, step-vans, transit buses and school buses, but for consumers who need light-duty cars, vans and pickup trucks there are fewer options. Currently, the only natural gas light-duty vehicle manufactured in the U.S. is the Honda Civic GX. Not surprisingly, it’s in high demand.
Outside of purchasing a Civic, American consumers have two other options: pursuing one of the limited makes and models available from the EPA-certified conversion system manufacturers, or purchasing from a government auction of pre-owned fleet vehicles.
Home fueling
Phill® by FuelMaker enables you to refuel at home and save even more money on – on a gallon-equivalent basis – versus paying retail. Phill is a small compressor appliance that’s no more complicated than your natural gas stove. Mounted on your garage wall or freestanding on a pedestal, it allows you to refuel overnight. Phill runs on electricity (at 800 watts, it uses less than most small kitchen appliances) and connects to a natural gas line.
The Phill is readily available and simply connects to the natural gas line that serves your home. The device provides the convenience of refueling your NGV right at home. For more information on purchasing or leasing a Phill device, visit: www.myphill.com or www.wisegasinc.com (Wise Gas is the authorized distributor of the Phill unit in Florida).
| For More Information | [-] |
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