Posted on 01/24/2010 5:30:32 PM PST by thackney
You might not know it, but there’s already an alternative fuel for vehicles that cuts pollution, saves money and provides an “immediate solution to the nation’s energy security needs,” to quote the U.S. Department of Energy.
What’s that fuel? Natural gas.
For now, only about 2 percent of the energy used for transportation in the United States comes in the form of natural gas. But according to the DOE’s most recent Vehicle Technologies Market Report, the use of compressed natural gas grew by 40 percent in the middle of the last decade, and the use of liquefied natural gas jumped by 145 percent.
In all, there are more than 120,000 natural gas vehicles on the road today in the United States and about 10 million worldwide, according to Natural Gas Vehicles for America, a trade association promoting natural gas vehicles.
In the United States most natural gas vehicles are purchased as fleet vehicles by municipalities and businesses. Regular routes, high mileage and the opportunity for centralized refueling infrastructure make the vehicles attractive. According to NGVA, one in five transit buses sold today runs on natural gas. As of last July, UPS had the largest fleet of natural gas vehicles.
But individual consumers are starting to get in on the action, too. Honda, which sells the only major-manufacturer passenger vehicle that runs on natural gas, started marketing its Civic GX to individuals in 2005 and quickly saw retail sales top fleet sales. The company sold about 1,700 of the cars for the 2009 model year, said Todd Mittleman, a spokesman for Honda. The cars are sold on a retail basis in California, New York and Utah.
Natural gas vehicles typically perform similarly to their gasoline or diesel counterparts, but have a somewhat lower range because of the reduced energy storage density of natural gas. The Civic GX, for instance, has a range of about 220 miles.
Heavy-duty trucks typically use liquefied natural gas, while lighter-duty vehicles generally rely on compressed natural gas. The engines are similar to conventional gasoline and diesel engines, and some vehicles can even switch between natural gas and petroleum-based fuels. Both LNG and CNG vehicles require special, pressurized tanks and fuel systems.
Advocates of natural gas vehicles, or NGVs, tout many of the same benefits as advocates of electric vehicles—cleaner air and reduced dependence on foreign oil.
Most of the natural gas used in the United States is produced domestically, and almost all of the rest comes from Canada.
Natural gas vehicles also produce fewer harmful emissions than their gasoline or diesel counterparts, reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, according to the DOE.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, a research group promoting energy efficiency, has put the Civic GX at the top of its list of “greenest vehicles” for the last seven years running, above even Toyota’s fuel-efficient hybrid, the Prius.
Natural gas vehicles do release more methane than conventional vehicles, but government analysis has found that overall emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane and carbon dioxide, can be reduced with NGVs.
Because of the similarities between natural gas and hydrogen, NGVs are seen as a potential bridge toward vehicles running on hydrogen.
Cheaper fuel, if you can find it
NGVs generally cost more than conventional vehicles—the premium for heavy-duty vehicles can by $30,000 to $50,000—but can be significantly cheaper to operate. The DOE’s Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report from October 2009 found the national average price for compressed natural gas was about 78 cents less than gasoline on an energy-equivalent basis. In the Rocky Mountain region, natural gas cost about half as much as gasoline.
There are also federal incentives that reduce the cost of the vehicles, fuel, and refueling infrastructure. Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVA, said extending and expanding those tax credits is his group’s biggest priority now.
When asked about the modest retail sales of NGVS, Kolodziej pointed to the lack of infrastructure. The country has about 180,000 gas stations, he said, and only about 1,300 natural gas fueling stations (many of which are closed to the public).
The future of transportation?
Nonetheless, Kolodziej is hopeful about the future of NGVs. With the right incentives, natural gas could meet 20 percent of the diesel market in 10 or 15 years, he said.
Kolodziej added that T. Boone Pickens, whose widely publicized “Pickens Plan” calls for a large-scale shift to natural gas vehicles, has done a lot to educate the public and policy makers about NGVs. Before, Kolodziej had to start his pitch by simply explaining that it’s possible to run a car on natural gas, he said. “We don’t have to do that anymore.”
Honda’s Mittleman was cautiously optimistic, noting that said sales of NGVs and hybrid vehicles have tended to increase when fuel prices rise. “We foresee increasing sales,” he said, “but we also need to see the expansion of infrastructure to support greater sales.”
Natural gas has been tried before in the US. The giant explosions that resulted were why it hasn’t been popular since.
Also, it should be noted that this means that the price of natural gas would rise due to demand, thus increasing the cost of electricity and home heating.
There’s always at least one turd in the punch bowl, isn’t there?
Not scalable for passenger cars at the number driven today.
Good article, I work in the natural gas industry very close to the Haynsville Shale. Natural Gas refueling would require a big investment in infrastructure, probably a mandate by government to build refueling stations. Since I don’t like mandates from the government and believe that prices will dictate changes we will just have to wait. To much oil in the ground yet but America has more Natural Gas than it realizes. Potential is there.
Thing is, natural gas isn’t really the answer. And Pickens is really pushing it as he stands to make lots of money off of natural gas.
Hydrogen is a much more practical solution, IMHO.
I would love to purchase one of those CNG Civics (actually assembled here in Indiana at the new Greensburg plant).
My problem is there are just a handful of CNG filling stations around central Indiana, and from what I’ve read the home refueling compressor rig is expensive and short lived.
(I did install nat gas and 220v in my new garage in anticipation of some day being able to try this).
And guess what happens when the home refuelling rig has a, er, ‘major malfunction’.
Before you count out CNG..India started a program to convert all their buses and cabs to CNG. The infrastructure is mostly there. You install gas compressors at gas stations to compress natural gas into cylinders to fill the vehicles. We already have the gas pipelines. The tanks are bigger, which is not much of problem for commercial vehicles and taxis..and if the carmakers go on it they could solve the design issue of where to put the tanks in passenger cars.
We should eliminate the use of natural gas for epg and convert all that to nuclear while shifting natural gas to heating and vehicles. We have lots of natural gas in NA..with more reserves every day.
I don’t mind folks experimenting with NG, but don’t expect me to subsidize it. We’ve had enough of that.
One of my Auto Gnomes told me what the added price is for off the assembly line, but that is not for here. Yes it is more. But down in AU their gasoline this summer was $4.80 American and their Gaseous fuel was 80 cents a gallon. Suplant Direct Injectors with Gaseous Direct Injectors, for even higher compression ratios or more turbo-boost for downsized engines with a nice kick.
All we need is Congress and Obongo to get off their @$$ and make it a reality.
As someone who has been reseaching this fuel for cars for over 2 years, Sarah Palin was right when she said Natural Gas is the fuel of the future...
It is a growing market, but has a ways to go.
Natural Gas Fueling Station Locations
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/natural_gas_locations.html
I’m just into the whole flammable gas under pressure in my (or anybody near me) car. Just seems like a bad idea.
Not without trading oil imports for natural gas imports.
Or a vast drilling program after the ejection of many politicians.
It would take a couple decades, and would be better as a split between oil and gas.
Ford has a Crown Vic version that runs on Compressed gas. Almost bought it but thought it would tough to travel longer distance.
Do you think it is more flammable than gasoline?
At least hydrogen and natural gas disapate upwards into the air if their is a leak, rather than pooling in a spreading flammable puddle.
I do not see the danger level much different than what we use today. The pressure is significant, but we transport welding type storage tanks every day.
Natural Gas is used today in may vehicles. Mostly by fleet maintenance types like city buses and UPS trucks.
You might be surprised in a city like Houston how many vehicles are already powered this way.
Gasoline isn’t under pressure, even without a spark natural gas presents an explosion hazard. Notice when we transport gas tanks today the vehicle has to have warning labels.
Can you explain what you mean?
Natural Gas has a low and quite limited air/fuel ratio mix to be ignitable.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.