CNG Benefits
(courtesy of NGVAmerica)
Petroleum Displacement
Making America less dependent on foreign oil is a national priority. In his 2006 State-of-the-Union address, President Bush stated that we are “addicted to oil,” and his Administration is dedicated to reducing that addiction. Congress, too, is strongly on record in support of reducing 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. EPA 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: Carbon monoxide (CO) by 70 percent; Non-methane organic gas (NMOG) by 87 percent; Nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 87 percent; and Carbon dioxide (CO2) by almost 20 percent below those of gasoline vehicles.
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 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
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 any 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 about 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.
Worth It To Convert!
The cost of conversion ranges depending on the vehicle, but with the money saved in fuel costs, some vehicles can recover the cost of conversion in less than six months. If you're considering conversion, consult with a gas conversion specialist to determine if your vehicle:
· Can accommodate the added weight of the CNG canisters. Total conversion will add between 200-500 pounds.
· Has been approved for conversions through the EPA or California Air Resources Board (CARB). standards. The Clean Air Act approves EPA-certified conversions. Click here for a current list of original equipment manufacturers and EPA certified system retrofitters.
The federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 income tax credit that offsets the cost of purchasing a new natural gas vehicle also applies to the conversion of your current vehicle. This credit can offset approximately 50-80% of your conversion cost. State tax credits may also be available for converting a vehicle to natural gas. For specific details on tax credits, the U.S. Department of Energy.
PURCHASING PRE-OWNED CNG VEHICLES
If conversion isn’t a viable option, you might consider purchasing a used CNG vehicle. The largest consumer of light-duty CNG vehicles (sedans and pick-up trucks) has been government agencies, and they typically sell their fleet vehicles after a specific timeframe or upon reaching a set number of miles. To learn more, visit the GSA Fleet Vehicle Sales website.
Source: NGVAmerica
Additionally, as more CNG vehicles start hitting the road, greater opportunities will emerge for buyers to find already-converted cars or trucks. Auto Excellence (myautoexcellence2.com) in West Jordan Utah specializes in used CNG vehicles.
