According to the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, there are roughly 120,000 vehicles in the U.S. powered by natural gas, with an additional 8.7 million of these vehicles used in other parts of the world. Compared with the total vehicles on the road, this is a fairly low number, especially when you consider the many benefits associated with natural gas. As awareness grows about natural gas vehicles and their many advantages, demand is expected to increase for both commercial vehicles and passenger cars powered by natural gas.
Uses
According to USAToday, there are only about 1,500 natural gas fueling stations in the United States. With such a scarcity of fuel sites, many buyers are hesitant to buy these vehicles. The major supporters of this technology include governments, trucking companies, taxi fleets and other commercial or municipal organizations. These groups can build their own central fueling stations to make natural gas vehicles a more practical option. The few natural-gas-powered passenger cars in the U.S. are found primarily in California and New York, where strict emissions standards have forced buyers to choose more efficient vehicles. Buyers who wish to take advantage of this technology but are worried about refueling can install home fuel pumps, which connect to standard natural gas lines outside the home.
Considerations
The average driver will notice very little difference between a standard gasoline vehicle and one that's powered by natural gas. From the outside, these cars look the same, and often offer similar levels of performance. The natural gas vehicle uses a series of gas storage cylinders, which are stored either under the car's floorboards or in the trunk area. These cylinders can be filled in the same way as a traditional gas tank, and fueling takes about the same amount of time. Cars that use natural gas do contain slightly modified engines that can operate with this alternate fuel. According to Green Car, engines that run on natural gas offer a slightly lower horsepower rating on average, but the effects are barely noticeable to most drivers.
Types
Worldwide, there are three basic types of natural-gas-powered vehicles to choose from. Standard models are designed to run off compressed natural gas (CNG), while some use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative. Bi-fuel conversion models contain natural gas tanks to power the vehicle, as well as a standard tank for gasoline. When the natural gas cylinders are emptied, the engine automatically converts to using the gasoline.
While many different vehicles throughout the world rely on natural gas, buyers in the U.S. only have one passenger car option as of 2010. The Honda Civic GX is the only natural-gas-powered vehicle on the market, and is similar to other Civic models. This car regularly receives top honors from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's annual green car rankings.
Benefits
Natural gas offers a number of environmental and financial benefits to drivers and the public. Because this gas burns so cleanly, it contributes very little to air pollution. In the event of a spill, natural gas dissipates into the air instead of forming a puddle on the ground, which reduces fire risk along with water and ground pollution. According to MSN, natural gas has historically been cheaper than gasoline, which can reduce fuel costs significantly over time.
Drawbacks
The primary disadvantage associated with natural gas cars is that they are relatively new compared to gasoline engines. Most car buyers hesitate to buy these vehicles because gas is so familiar, or because they are concerned by the lack of fueling stations. Natural gas vehicles also cost more than other cars initially, but energy-related tax credits can help offset these added costs. The gas cylinders in these vehicles also tend to take up storage space in the trunk, which can be a problem for those used to storing suitcases or groceries in the trunk. Finally, natural gas powered vehicles have a relatively limited driving range compared to gasoline engines, which makes them impractical for long trips.
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