"Thunderface" (thunderface)
04/01/2015 at 16:47 • Filed to: Cng, compressed natural gas
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"Thunderface" (thunderface)
04/01/2015 at 16:47 • Filed to: Cng, compressed natural gas | 1
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Or anyone that knows about them? How do they work? Is the CNG expensive?
PS9
> Thunderface
04/01/2015 at 16:50 |
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There's lots of natural gas in my car after a night at taco bell. Does that count?
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Thunderface
> PS9
04/01/2015 at 16:52 |
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Almost
RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
> Thunderface
04/01/2015 at 17:17 |
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I know just enough about them to be dangerous. From what I've heard, the killer is being in line with whatever your local regs are. Some localities, it's obscenely more expensive because of the certifications required for the installer. Combine this with the tank itself for the car being very expensive in some cases, and it doesn't work for everybody. It's best if you have a number of cars to refill from your own system, and those cars are models that fleet kit/conversions are available for... in a principality that doesn't care.
BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> Thunderface
04/01/2015 at 17:39 |
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I drove a CNG Crown Vic once. Drove like a normal car. CNG was cheaper than gasoline per mile but the tank was tiny and required a lot of fill ups. Hard to find if you're not a municipal worker. What specifically do you want to know?
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Thunderface
> BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
04/01/2015 at 17:44 |
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I'm just curious, but I wouldn't mind owning one in the future...
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BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
> Thunderface
04/01/2015 at 18:14 |
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They're really economical on fuel, but you gotta a) have a station near you and b) not mind giving up a lot of trunk space (if a sedan). I know some trucks our state owns are CNG too, and I think the tank is in the bed.
nermal
> Thunderface
04/01/2015 at 18:19 |
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Yep.
CNG engines work just like any other one, and you can convert gas or diesel engines to run on CNG, or to do a dual fuel hybrid. You can order a few new vehicles that support CNG from the factory, most of them pickups. Obviously the fuel system is different, otherwise the rest of the engine is pretty much the same.
Cost for conversion on a "light duty" vehicle is usually in the $5 - $10k range. "Heavy duty" vehicles can be more. Cost to build a fuelling station ranges from $10k to $2M, depending on size and other factors.
Why would you want a CNG vehicle? Lower emissions, lower fuel costs.
Why wouldn't you want a CNG vehicle? Higher upfront costs, harder to find fuel.
Who actually buys CNG vehicles? Mostly companies and local governments, specifically those that have an "out-and-back" route for their drivers. Think of a bus that runs the same route. Bus gets fueled up in the morning at the bus garage, the driver goes out and busses people around, then comes back to the same garage to fuel up at the end of the day. Same goes for a garbage truck. The more fuel the vehicle uses, the more compelling switching to CNG is.
What is the biggest factor in CNG vehicle adoption? Politics, and the price of gasoline / diesel. There's a public CNG fuelling station in my area, and CNG has consistently been $1.99 GGE (Gallon of Gas Equivalent). In the time since the station has been installed, the cost for regular has ranged from $2.29 to about $4.50. Spending $10k to save $0.30 / gallon is gonna take a while to pay for. Spending $10k to save $2.50 / gallon when your trucks use 50+ gallons / week can add up to an immense savings rather quickly. Plus, since CNG vehicles pollute less, and is produced in abundance locally, it looks good politically to have them running in municipal fleets.