Natural gas
is an odorless, gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons-predominantly made up of methane (CH4). The two forms of natural gas that are currently used in vehicles are compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Both are made domestically, at relatively low prices, and are commercially available. Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) is a type of natural gas with enhanced environmental benefits.
Benefits and Considerations of Natural Gas
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Natural gas burns cleaner than gasoline, which can lead to less wear and tear on engine components, potentially extending engine life and reducing maintenance costs. It also produces less carbon buildup when combusted, which affects engine performance by obstructing airflow and fuel delivery.
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As the transportation sector accounts for 30% of total U.S. energy needs and 70% of U.S. petroleum consumption, using natural gas to create diverse transportation options strengthens national energy security. Since natural gas is produced domestically, you won’t have to rely on foreign oil and its fluctuating prices.
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Natural gas vehicles produce less emissions than traditional gasoline powered vehicles. When burned, it produces less carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate batter. Light-duty vehicles running on conventional natural gas can provide small to moderate GHG emissions reductions and reduce life cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 15%.
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CNG-powered public transportation can lead to improvements in air quality and respiratory illnesses. Specifically, the driver experiences a quieter engine and a less of a fire hazard since it disperses quickly if leaked.
Liquefied Natural Gas
LNG is natural gas in its liquid form, it is produced by purifying natural gas and super-cooling it to -260 degree Fahrenheit to turn it into liquid. Due to the high cost of production, the fuel’s use in commercial applications has been limited. LNG is typically used in medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
The Two Options
Compressed Natural Gas
CNG is produced by compressing natural gas to less than 1% of its volume at standard atmospheric pressure. It is used in light, medium, and heavy-duty vehicles. A CNG-powered vehicle gets around the same fuel economy as conventional gasoline vehicle on a gasoline gallon equivalent.
Renewable Natural Gas
Renewable natural gas (RNG) is a pipeline-quality gas that is fully interchangeable with conventional natural gas and can be used in natural gas vehicles. RNG is naturally occurring and essentially biogas, the gaseous product of the decomposition of organic matter. It is produced from various biomass sources through a biochemical process. Examples of sources include livestock operations, wastewater treatment, landfills.
Benefits:
Energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels
Flexible and reliable since it can be used for a wide variety of applications from transportation, heating, to electricity generation
Expands fuel diversity and reduces dependence on a single fuel source
Contributes to a circular economy by transforming waste into a valuable fuel source
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane
Waste management through utilizing waste materials
Types of Natural Gas Vehicles
Natural gas currently powers more than 175,00 vehicles in the United States and around 23 million worldwide. For fleets that have needs of high-mileage and a central fuel station natural gas is a good option. Medium and heavy-duty NGVs are available from original equipment manufacturers as well as through qualified system retrofitters.
Dedicated
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Vehicles that specifically designed to operate only on natural gas. They require a natural gas fuel system: fuel tank, fuel delivery system, and engine modification to run on CNG.
Bi-Fuel
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These vehicle switch between natural gas and gasoline. They typically have two separate fuel tanks and fuel systems, allowing the driver to select which fuel source.
Dual-Fuel
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These vehicles are usually used in heavy-duty applications. These run on natural gas but can use a small amount of diesel fuel for ignition assistance or a blend of natural gas and diesel used.
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Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)