- 175,000 NGVs on U.S. roads
- More than 15 million worldwide
- More than 1,600 CNG fueling stations in the U.S.
- U.S. NGVs use about 500 million gallons of CNG rather than crude
- NGVs meet the strictest emission standards, including California’s AT-PZEV standard.
- NGVs are as safe or safer than traditional gasoline or diesel vehicles.
A natural gas vehicle is a vehicle that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) as a clean alternative to other fuels. While a growing number of vehicles are now being manufactured to run on CNG, many existing gasoline-powered vehicles can be converted to allow the use of CNG.
CNG (compressed natural gas) or NGV (natural gas for vehicle) natural gas is a mixture of gases, methane (85 to 98%).
LPG is not the same as CNG! LPG is a mixture of gases, butane and propane stored in a liquid state. Propane is a low-pressure liquefied gas and CNG is high-pressure compressed natural gas. The storage pressures are between 8 to 15 bars (116 psi to 217.5 psi) for propane and 200 to 250 bars for CNG (3000 psi and 3600 psi). In spite of being highly pressuring, CNG is much less explosive than LPG or even gasoline.
With an EPA-approved sequential injection conversion kit any 4, 6 or 8 cylinder gasoline vehicle – domestic or foreign, car, van, SUV, or truck can be successfully equipped for operation of hybrid bi-fuel (CNG or gasoline) regardless of mileage
We’re using our own natural resources, minimizing dependency on foreign oil, and helping the environment, as burning CNG is fourteen times cleaner than gasoline. Maintenance and oil changes are extended 4-5 times due to the cleaner operation. Users save approximately 50% of their current gasoline budget.
With the conversion system properly installed and maintained, it will outlast most any vehicle. The tanks however do have a limited life span. 20-year tanks are suggested as a minimum.
No, the opposite is the case. The usage of CNG can extend the life of the engine. This happens due to the clean combustion of CNG and the fact that no carbon is generated during combustion. The engine components and oil are not subject to the contamination produced by using gasoline or diesel as fuel.
The gasoline tank is not removed on a hybrid bi-fuel system. The CNG system uses its own storage tank, usually mounted in the cargo area or underneath the vehicle, depending on available space and driver/owner preference.
Yes, the system can be removed at any time without affecting the gasoline system. Usually the only time this might be done is when the vehicle owner wants to sell the vehicle and feels he/she could not recover the conversion cost with the sale, or in cases where the owner would like to reinstall the system on another new vehicle.
There are no negative effects after the conversion system is installed if the installation is completed and inspected by qualified and certified installers and inspectors.
With the conversion you have a fuel gauge, with a touch on/touch off switch conveniently located on the instrument panel, so switching from CNG to gasoline can easily be done while the vehicle is in operation. Most times it is not used as CNG-gasoline switching is done automatically and seamlessly. All the driver has to do is drive and enjoy the savings.
Natural gas is rated at 130 octane and gasoline is rated at 85-90 octane, with the conversion technology allowing precise distribution, giving each cylinder the same amount of energy in natural gas as gasoline and the performance and fuel mileage will remain the same at (+/-) 3%.
A GGE is a factor that describes the number of gallons of a fuel that has the equivalent amount of energy as one gallon of gasoline. If one gallon of the fuel has less energy than one gallon of gasoline, you will need more of that fuel to drive the same distance as you would drive on one gallon of gasoline.
Click here to view a chart of energy sources and their relevant conversion values.
Yes, CNG is stored in a cylinder comprised of steel and/or very strong polymers, in fact they are literally bullet proof, and are mounted to with stand an 80 mph crash and 8G force in all directions. Gasoline tanks are formed out of a very thin sheet metal and are much more subject to leaks. In spite of being highly pressuring, CNG is much less explosive than LPG or even gasoline. Natural gas is lighter than air and rises if a leak occurs; gasoline however pools on the ground and is more subject to ignition. Most all home and business heating and cooking appliances utilize natural gas because of safety, dependability and cost effectiveness. Natural gas is the safest, least expensive, cleanest burning, and most abundant fuel available in the market today. In some countries more than 50 percent of vehicles use natural gas as transportation fuel and have dramatically reduced their dependency on foreign oil.
This video by NGV Depot demonstrates the safety of compressed natural gas fueling and storage tanks.