Natural-Gas Cars Can Drive Us Toward a Better Economy

[ALS]

The bottom line is that the U.S. would be much better off with a wider choice of transportation fuels.

Peter Orszag - BLOOMBERG - June 27, 2012

I want it all, gasoline, Diesel, Hybrid's, BEV's, Natural gas, Hydrogen, yes I'm that greedy --Ed.

Armenia is not generally known as a world leader, but it holds at least one record: Seventy-five percent of its cars and trucks run on natural gas.

In the U.S., in contrast, the share is well under 0.1 percent -- even though natural-gas prices have plummeted here over the past few years. Given the problems associated with U.S. dependence on oil, more use of natural gas for transportation could carry big benefits.

One of the most important of these would be macroeconomic. Switching to natural-gas vehicles would reduce our vulnerability to oil-price shocks, as Christopher Knittel, a professor of energy economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, argues in a new paper for the Hamilton Project. That benefit alone could amount to between $850 (for sedans) and $18,500 (for heavy-duty trucks) for each vehicle converted.

More natural-gas cars and trucks could also, if managed well, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and other pollutants (more on that below). The bottom line is that the U.S. would be much better off with a wider choice of transportation fuels. ... [Read More]

[WriConsult]

I would love to see this. Unfortunately the nearest NG filling station open to the public is about 200 miles from me ... and most NG vehicles have only a 200 mile range.

NG has at least one very distinct disadvantage: the storage tank needed to provide even a modest range is quite large. In the Civic GX, for example, the tank takes up most of the trunk. Not a big problem for larger utility trucks that are used for local work and can afford the space, but creating a natural gas powered vehicle that is ready for family roadtrips with plenty of cargo space would be quite a challenge.

[chilimac02]

you guys don't have NG in your houses there? It's pretty standard around here.

[Die2self]

it always seems that there has to be one silver bullet to solve everything. 20 years ago I was in New Zealand and they had cars that ran on both CNG and gas. Talk about Flex fuel. He had about a 60 Gal tank in the back of the station wagon (Holden) and when it got low he would just flip a switch on the dash to start using fuel from the Gas tank.

I think there are many issues that could be addressed with the correct Hybriization of different solutions. Just like there is hybrid gas vehicles that use both BEV and ICE Tech, there could be different types of fuel used (E85 is not an alternative in my opinion, keep food out of my dino juice). CNG with Gas, LPG with Gas etc...

You really think that the Gas companyies want to put a CNG filling station in most of the gas stations? No, because they will lose their profits from us on gasoline purchases. Until it is mandated (signed into Law) or becomes profitable to them they will not do it.

It seems to mee that CNG is in the same leage as BEV with limited range and limited places to refuel them with a slightly higher price tag.

I guess if you really want to explorer it you could see about setting up a large CNG tank at your house and have it filled periodically.

[WriConsult]

Originally Posted by chilimac02

you guys don't have NG in your houses there? It's pretty standard around here.

We certainly do, though I haven't thought about that angle. Presumably line level pressure isn't enough on its own and you need some sort of special compressor to turn "NG" into "CNG", plus a storage tank to hold enough for a fill of your car's tank, plus ??? What's involved and what does it cost?

[Harold]

Should be the only fuel we can use in our cars! Much cleaner and we have lots of it and it is cheap. Big oil don't want us to have it I guess. H

[EdwinTheMagnificent]

Doesn't Honda sell some sort of compressor/pump to put in your garage so you can fill your tank ? I'm sure it's not cheap , but neither is the natural gas Civic. But being Honda, it is well engineered and safe.

[300TTto545]

My understanding is that $4000 got you a home filling station. But the real issue was seals that needed replacing and the ongoing costs were significant.

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Originally Posted by EdwinTheMagnificent

Doesn't Honda sell some sort of compressor/pump to put in your garage so you can fill your tank ? I'm sure it's not cheap , but neither is the natural gas Civic. But being Honda, it is well engineered and safe.

It was and again is the Phil.

http://www.autoobserver.com/2011/03/...l-station.html

[herm]

There were some impurities issues damaging the car with the Phil.