Mercedes Mullins
Natural gas is an increasingly popular alternative to gasoline and diesel for fuelling vehicles. As of 2019, there were nearly 28 million natural gas vehicles (NGVs) worldwide, up from 9.6 million in 2008. NGVs use compressed natural gas (CNG), which is stored in high-pressure cylinders, or liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is stored in cryogenic cylinders. NGVs are more expensive to buy than conventional vehicles but cost less to run and maintain. They also produce less toxic emissions, making them a more environmentally friendly option. The use of natural gas to fuel vehicles is particularly prevalent in the Asia-Pacific region, with 6.8 million vehicles, and Latin America, with 4.2 million.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of natural gas vehicles worldwide | ~23 million (2023); 28 million (2019) |
| Number of natural gas vehicles in the US | 160,000 (2016); >175,000 (2023) |
| Number of natural gas refueling stations | 900 CNG stations; 60 LNG stations |
| Percentage of on-road fuel that was renewable natural gas | 64% (2021) |
| Percentage of on-road fuel that was renewable natural gas in California | 98% (2021) |
| Percentage reduction in GHG emissions with CNG | 13-18% |
| Percentage reduction in GHG emissions with RNG | Higher than with CNG |
| Cost of natural gas fuel compared to gasoline and diesel | Less expensive |
| Cost of natural gas refueling stations compared to hydrogen and electric vehicle stations | Less expensive to construct |
| Natural gas engine horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed compared to conventional fossil fuel engines | Comparable |
| Natural gas engine emissions compared to conventional fossil fuel engines | Lower |
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What You'll Learn
- Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run
- Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have different uses
- NGVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel and gasoline
- NGV refueling stations are less expensive to construct than for hydrogen or electric vehicles
- NGVs are ideal for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are more expensive to buy but cheaper to run
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel vehicles. NGVs are vehicles that use compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. While NGVs are more expensive to purchase than traditional vehicles, they are significantly cheaper to run.
One of the main advantages of NGVs is their cost-effectiveness. Natural gas is abundant and inexpensive due to the rise in fracking, a method of extracting natural gas from underground shale. As a result, the fuel costs of NGVs are much lower than those of gasoline or diesel vehicles. In some areas, natural gas can be up to half the price of diesel. Additionally, NGVs have similar fuel range support to conventional vehicles and can be refuelled in a similar amount of time, making them a convenient and economical choice for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets.
Another benefit of NGVs is their environmental impact. NGVs offer additional air quality and environmental justice benefits as they emit almost no particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, or carbon monoxide, which are responsible for poor air quality. NGVs can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13-18%, and this percentage is even higher when using renewable natural gas (RNG) or a blend of the two gases. Additionally, natural gas cannot spill, puddle, or cause ground contamination like diesel or gasoline spills.
However, one of the main drawbacks of NGVs is their limited availability. In the United States, only one all-natural-gas-vehicle model, the Honda Civic Natural Gas, is available, although other manufacturers have announced bi-fuel models that run on gasoline and natural gas. NGVs are also more expensive to purchase, with a price difference of up to thousands of dollars compared to traditional vehicles. Additionally, home refueling systems for NGVs can be costly, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, and require overnight refuelling.
Despite these limitations, NGVs have their devotees, especially in urban areas with plenty of CNG fuel stations. With the potential for rising gasoline prices, the low-cost natural gas may become a more appealing option for motorists. NGVs offer a safe and efficient alternative to traditional vehicles, providing similar horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed while significantly reducing fuel costs and environmental impact.
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Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) have different uses
Natural gas is a well-suited fuel for vehicles in today's energy transition. It powers more than 175,000 vehicles in the United States and approximately 23 million vehicles worldwide. Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) are similar products, but they differ in their storage and delivery methods.
Compressed natural gas is derived by compressing methane to less than 1% of its volume at baseline temperature and high pressure. It is clean, odourless, and non-corrosive, making it safer and more efficient than petrol or diesel. CNG is used as a substitute fuel for powering vehicles and is available at nearly 900 stations in the United States. It is ideal for centrally fuelled fleets, such as freight-hauling trucks, buses, and garbage trucks, as it provides similar fuel range support and horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed comparable to conventional fossil fuels.
On the other hand, liquefied natural gas (LNG) is obtained by compressing and cooling natural gas to extremely low temperatures, turning it into a liquid. LNG is denser than CNG, allowing vehicles with LNG tanks to travel further than those with CNG tanks. This makes LNG a preferable option for long-haul trucks and heavy trucks travelling long distances. However, LNG requires complex cryogenic equipment and is more hazardous than CNG due to the need for venting off fumes and the risk of freeze burns. There are only about 55 public-access LNG stations in the United States, mostly located at industrial facilities.
While CNG is widely accessible and suitable for fleets operating within a region with reliable fuelling infrastructure, LNG is advantageous for long-distance travel due to its higher energy density. LNG is also more complicated to use and is not as widely available as CNG. Both CNG and LNG play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality compared to traditional gasoline and diesel fuels.
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NGVs reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to diesel and gasoline
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are a viable alternative to gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles. With over 23 million NGVs worldwide, natural gas is an increasingly popular fuel choice. NGVs offer several advantages over traditional fuels, including reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
NGVs emit fewer GHG emissions than diesel and gasoline vehicles. This is due to the higher hydrogen-to-carbon ratio in natural gas compared to diesel or gasoline fuel. Studies have shown that NGVs emit 6.3% less GHG, or 39.3 tons less per vehicle annually, than diesel vehicles. CNG trucks, in particular, emit 15% less CO2 than their diesel counterparts.
The use of renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, further reduces GHG emissions. RNG is produced from agricultural by-products and organic waste, and when blended with fossil natural gas, it can provide significant GHG emission benefits. CNG, created by capturing methane from organic waste, also contributes to the reduction of GHG emissions.
NGVs with ultra-low NOx engines can achieve near-zero NOx emissions, meeting stringent emissions standards. In addition, natural gas vehicles emit almost no particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, or carbon monoxide, which improves air quality. The environmental benefits of NGVs are especially notable when they replace older conventional vehicles.
NGVs also offer economic advantages, with natural gas costing less than gasoline and diesel. Additionally, natural gas refueling stations are less expensive to construct than those for electric or hydrogen vehicles. This makes NGVs a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option for fleets looking to reduce their emissions and operating costs.
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NGV refueling stations are less expensive to construct than for hydrogen or electric vehicles
Natural gas is an increasingly popular alternative to gasoline and diesel for fuelling vehicles. As of 2023, natural gas powers more than 175,000 vehicles in the United States and approximately 23 million vehicles worldwide. This includes heavy-duty vehicles such as freight-hauling trucks, buses, and garbage trucks, as well as smaller applications like forklifts and commercial lawn equipment.
One of the advantages of natural gas as a transportation fuel is its established distribution infrastructure. There are currently around 900 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and 60 liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelling stations in the United States. The availability of natural gas through these established distribution channels makes it a viable option for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets.
When comparing the costs of different alternative fuels, it's important to consider not only the fuel price but also the infrastructure required for refuelling. NGV (natural gas vehicle) refuelling stations are generally less expensive to construct than those for hydrogen or electric vehicles. The equipment and systems used for natural gas refuelling are well-established and less complex, making them more cost-effective to build and maintain.
For example, the cost of hydrogen refuelling stations has been a topic of discussion in the industry. Hydrogen vehicles have the advantage of short refuelling times, similar to conventional fuel vehicles, but the infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling can be expensive to maintain. In California, light vehicle hydrogen refuelling stations have been reported to spend more time being repaired than pumping hydrogen, resulting in high maintenance costs.
The safety and cost advantages of methane in natural gas over hydrogen fuel also contribute to its viability. Additionally, natural gas is readily available, and its prices have remained relatively stable for the past 20 years, making it easier for fleet operators to forecast monthly and yearly fuel costs.
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NGVs are ideal for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are ideal for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets. Firstly, NGVs offer significant environmental benefits. They emit almost no particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, or carbon monoxide, which are the main contributors to poor air quality. NGVs also produce lower levels of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, which are known to cause acid rain. As a result, NGVs are well-suited for improving air quality in urban areas, where air pollution is a pressing public health concern.
Secondly, NGVs provide economic advantages for high-mileage, centrally fuelled fleets. Natural gas is less expensive than gasoline and diesel, with prices remaining relatively stable for two decades. This stability allows fleet operators to accurately forecast monthly and yearly natural gas costs. Additionally, natural gas refuelling stations are less costly to construct than those for electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles due to their proven and less complex equipment and systems.
Thirdly, NGVs offer comparable performance to conventional fossil fuel engines. NGVs can deliver similar horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed to their gasoline and diesel counterparts. While dedicated NGVs may have slightly slower acceleration than gasoline-powered vehicles, they still provide adequate performance for high-mileage fleets.
Finally, NGVs are suitable for centrally fuelled fleets due to the widespread availability of natural gas. In the United States alone, there are nearly 900 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations and 60 liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations, making it convenient for fleets to refuel within a limited area. LNG is particularly suitable for long-distance travel, offering greater energy density and a fuel range comparable to conventional fuels.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2019, there were nearly 28 million natural gas vehicles (NGVs) globally.
There are more than 175,000 natural gas vehicles in the United States, with 3,176 of those being LNG vehicles, as of 2016.
Natural gas vehicles produce lower toxic air emissions than gasoline and diesel engines, and they are cheaper to run due to lower maintenance costs and fuel taxes. Natural gas is also less expensive than gasoline and diesel, and it has a proven equipment and system setup that is less complex.
Natural gas vehicles are more expensive to buy than conventional vehicles, and there are challenges with the storage and distribution of natural gas due to its pressurized or liquefied state.
The Asia-Pacific region leads the world with 6.8 million NGVs, followed by Latin America with 4.2 million. Pakistan has the highest number of NGVs with 2 million, followed by Argentina with 1.7 million and Brazil with 1.6 million.
