 | Natural
Gas Vehicles | Vehicles
that use gasoline and diesel fuels have been in use for nearly a century. Alternative
fuels for transportation are needed to reduce our dependence upon imported oil,
and to improve our air quality. Replacing these fuels with cleaner burning natural
gas has been a formidable task. The natural gas industry is working with automakers,
government and other sectors of the public and private life to develop new advances
in transportation technology. Natural gas is a front running alternative in reducing
our oil dependence and creating a cleaner environment. Natural
gas vehicles have been in use in the United States for many years even though
for most people it seems to be a new concept. Initially, natural gas vehicles
were available as compressed natural gas (CNG), but now there is the option of
liquefied natural gas or LNG. Natural gas vehicles are available through purchase
from the major automakers with CNG, and as after-market conversions using CNG
or LNG. With CNG the gas is stored on board the vehicle in a gaseous form while
with LNG the natural gas is stored on board as a liquid in a container very similar
to a thermos bottle. CNG vehicle systems operate at either 3000 psi or 3600 psi,
and refueling stations are available to fuel either one. LNG storage systems work
with very low pressures. Several shops are available within a short driving range
of Roanoke, Virginia to provide the conversions. Refueling
facilities for natural gas vehicles have been slow in coming, but are beginning
to rise in number. Because of this, the initial push for natural gas vehicles
has been with the business fleet. These fleets often have centralized fueling
stations and greater daily fuel usage than private vehicles. Most of the government
policies and initiatives are focused on providing cleaner alternative fuels for
fleet vehicles. There are government incentives such as the proposed $0.25 per
gallon federal tax credit to make the conversion to natural gas a simpler and
more economical process. Also, to help motivate the fleet community to adopt alternatives
such as natural gas vehicles, emission credits are being developed in the marketplace. For
additional information on natural gas vehicles (NGV’s), please click on this link:
http://www.ngv.com | 
