Gasoline-electric hybrids are the glamorous celebrities of the automotive world these days, but there are other choices for those opting to drive green. As the name suggests, natural gas vehicles, generally referred to as NGV, use compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as opposed to traditional gasoline and diesel. Across the globe, more people are turning to NGVs, which is roughly 33% less than traditional gasoline and diesel, as fuel prices hit an all time high. Another plus is that there are no drawbacks because the cruise speed, acceleration and horsepower of an NGV are all comparable with an equivalent vehicle fueled conventionally.
There are currently 130,000 naturally fueled vehicles on the U.S. roads only, including passenger cars and trucks, heavy-duty transit buses, school buses, and refuse haulers. As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, NGV offers emissions benefits for both passenger vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles. The 2004 Honda Civic GX, which runs on CNG is currently the cleanest passenger vehicle in terms of internal combustion engine. For heavy trucks and buses, the new model of a natural gas vehicle can reduce smog-forming pollution by about 25 percent compared to conventional diesel, while toxic soot pollution can be cut by 75 to 90 percent. Natural gas is also cost effective during refueling, as there are no evaporative emissions. Some owners of fuel-efficient vehicles have reported less instances of necessary maintenance to their cars. This is in stark contrast to the typical maintenance schedule for regular gasoline or diesel vehicles.
On the downside, the lower energy content of naturally occurring gas means that the driving range of NGVs is less than that of traditionally-fueled vehicles. Although extra storage tanks can increase range, payload capacity may be displaced by the additional weight. The primary impediments to the public proliferation of fuel-efficient vehicles include limited refueling infrastructure, high initial cost, and performance characteristics of the automobile. NGVs are more expensive initially than their gasoline powered counterparts despite the fact that it is cheaper to refuel and maintain. However, as the technology becomes more advanced, the cost of manufacturing these vehicles should drop, which may benefit consumers in the long run.
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