Katerina Swanson
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are becoming an increasingly popular choice for eco-conscious drivers and businesses. Natural gas is a domestically-abundant resource with a widespread distribution infrastructure, and it produces fewer emissions than gasoline and diesel. As a result, natural gas vehicles can contribute to a reduction in carbon footprint. CNG can power vehicles of almost any size, from light-duty sedans to heavy-duty tractors and trucks. Examples of car models that use CNG include the Honda Civic NG, Ford Transit Connect, and Chevrolet Impala.
Cars that take CNG Fuel
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of vehicles worldwide | 23 million |
| Number of vehicles in the US | 175,000+ |
| Examples of car models | Honda Civic NG, Ford Transit Connect, Chevrolet Impala, Suzuki Mehran VX CNG BI FUEL, Fiat Panda Natural Power, Volkswagen Golf TGI 1.4 BlueMotion, Volvo V70 Bi-Fuel, Chevrolet Express |
| Examples of commercial vehicles | GMC Savana, Chevy Express, Ford E-Series, Ford pickup trucks |
| Fuel capacity (CNG) | 11-15 kg |
| Fuel capacity (petrol) | 10-50 L |
| Range (CNG) | 380-420 km |
| Range (petrol) | 600-1360 km |
| Fuel consumption combined | 7.3 kg/100 km |
| Environmental benefits | 30% less greenhouse gas emissions, reduced noise levels |
| Other benefits | Lower maintenance costs, lower fuel costs, comparable horsepower, acceleration, and cruise speed to conventional vehicles |
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What You'll Learn
CNG vs LNG
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are becoming an increasingly popular choice for drivers and businesses due to their environmental benefits. They are one of the cleanest-burning fuels available, with significantly fewer emissions than gasoline and diesel. They also have domestic availability and a widespread distribution infrastructure.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) are the same substance, with the difference being that CNG is stored in a vehicle's tank in gaseous form, while LNG is cooled to extremely low temperatures and stored as a liquid. LNG is denser than CNG, meaning that for two tanks of the same size, LNG will allow a vehicle to travel further. This makes LNG a popular option for long-haul trucks and vehicles that travel long distances. However, LNG is more complicated to use and is not widely available. There are only about 55 public-access LNG stations in the United States, and it is considered more hazardous than CNG due to the need to vent off fumes.
CNG, on the other hand, is less expensive than gasoline and diesel, and it helps prolong engine life and reduce maintenance costs. It is also considered safer than LNG and has lower production costs. CNG is a good choice for high-mileage, centrally-fueled fleets and regional work due to its ease of refuelling.
Examples of CNG vehicles include the Honda Civic NG, Ford Transit Connect, Chevrolet Impala, and the Fiat Panda Natural Power. Volkswagen also manufactures several models that run on CNG, including the Volkswagen Golf TGI 1.4 BlueMotion, Volkswagen Caddy/Caddy Maxi EcoFuel CNG, and the Volkswagen Touran EcoFuel CNG.
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Environmental benefits
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) offer a range of environmental benefits. Firstly, they result in significantly fewer emissions compared to traditional gasoline and diesel engines. By utilising compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG), NGVs emit up to 30% less greenhouse gases, which helps reduce their carbon footprint. This reduction in emissions is particularly beneficial for combating climate change and improving air quality, especially in cities where vehicles are a primary source of pollution.
CNG is also referred to as a "green fuel" due to its lack of lead and sulphur. This composition eliminates lead fouling of spark plugs and reduces harmful emissions of lead and benzene, further contributing to a cleaner environment. Additionally, CNG does not contaminate or dilute crankcase oil, resulting in extended engine life and reduced maintenance costs.
Another advantage of CNG is its domestic availability and widespread distribution infrastructure. Using CNG as an alternative fuel source reduces dependence on foreign oil, strengthening energy security and supporting local economies and job growth in the natural gas industry.
Furthermore, CNG engines typically operate at a lower noise level compared to diesel engines, creating a quieter and more pleasant environment. This reduction in noise pollution is a significant benefit, especially in urban areas.
Some examples of CNG vehicles include the Honda Civic NG, Ford Transit Connect, Chevrolet Impala, Volvo V70 Bi-Fuel, and the Fiat Panda Natural Power. Volkswagen also offers a range of models, including the Golf TGI 1.4 BlueMotion, Caddy/Caddy Maxi EcoFuel, and the Touran EcoFuel.
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CNG vehicles in the US
Natural gas vehicles, or compressed natural gas (CNG) cars, are powered by natural gas instead of gasoline or diesel fuel. CNG is a cleaner-burning fuel that produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants that contribute to smog and air pollution. It is estimated that CNG-powered cars emit at least 20% fewer greenhouse gases than gasoline-powered cars. CNG is also less likely to cause engine knocking due to its higher Octane rating.
Despite the environmental benefits of CNG, there are several limitations to its use in vehicles. One of the main challenges is fuel storage. CNG must be stored in high-pressure cylinders, which take up more space than gasoline or diesel tanks. This can reduce the space available for cargo in the vehicle's trunk or bed. While it is possible to install the tanks under the vehicle's body or on the roof, as is typically done for buses, this adds weight and complexity to the vehicle.
Another limitation is the limited infrastructure for CNG delivery and distribution at fueling stations. The limited availability of CNG fueling stations, as well as the fewer models of CNG vehicles available, make CNG-powered cars a less popular choice for consumers. In the US, there are about 150,000 CNG vehicles, compared to 15.2 million worldwide. However, this number is growing, and more vehicle manufacturers are starting to recognize the advantages of CNG and offer it as an option in their vehicles. For example, the 2016 Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel offers drivers the option of CNG or gasoline, making it the only CNG sedan available to North American consumers at the time.
Some of the vehicles that currently offer CNG options include the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado pickup trucks, as well as various Volkswagen models such as the Caddy, Golf, and Passat. CNG is also a popular choice for fleet vehicles such as buses, garbage trucks, and concrete mixers. Cities such as Dallas, Los Angeles, Denver, and Atlanta have transit bus fleets that run on CNG, and many airports use CNG-powered buses for their shuttles.
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Dual-fuel CNG models
Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are becoming an increasingly popular choice for eco-conscious drivers and businesses due to their environmental benefits and reduced greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional gasoline and diesel fuels. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a gasoline and diesel fuel alternative, primarily consisting of methane, that can power vehicles of almost any size without a loss of power.
Some popular dual-fuel CNG models include the Volvo V70 Bi-Fuel and the Fiat Panda Natural Power. Volvo also offers the S80 Bi-Fuel CNG and the S80 MultiFuel 2.0F/2.5FT, which can run on gasoline or CNG. Other dual-fuel CNG models include the Volkswagen Caddy/Caddy Maxi EcoFuel CNG and the Volkswagen Golf TGI 1.4 BlueMotion, which runs on natural gas and has a fuel capacity of 15kg of CNG and 50L of petrol.
In addition to cars, CNG is also being used in heavy-duty vehicles such as transit buses, school buses, refuse trucks, concrete mixers, and semi-tractors. CNG engines typically operate at a reduced noise level compared to diesel engines, which is advantageous for vehicles operating in residential and downtown areas.
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CNG vehicles in Europe
Natural gas-powered vehicles, such as those that use compressed natural gas (CNG), are becoming increasingly popular in Europe due to their environmental benefits and lower prices at fuel stations compared to petrol stations. CNG is considered a climate-friendly alternative to diesel and petrol, emitting up to 35% less CO2 than a petrol engine when combined with a 20% biogas admixture. In addition, the operation of natural gas vehicles is incentivized in some European countries, such as Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, and the Netherlands, through lower taxes and subsidies.
The European CNG fuel grid is designed with a recommended maximum distance of 150 kilometres between stations. As of 2021, there were around 2,600 natural gas fuel stations across Europe, with Germany leading the way with approximately 900 stations. Northern Italy has the highest number of CNG fuel stations in Europe, with Austria, Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic also investing in natural gas mobility.
While the choice of vehicle models that run on natural gas is limited, some car manufacturers do offer CNG-powered options. For example, Volkswagen offers the Caddy, Caddy Maxi Life EcoFuel, and the Touran EcoFuel, while Volvo offers the S80 Bi-Fuel and Suzuki offers the Mehran VX CNG BI FUEL. In the commercial sector, Volkswagen, Fiat/Iveco, Volvo, and Scania all have CNG offerings.
Despite the growing popularity of CNG, there has been a recent slump in new CNG commercial vehicle registrations in Europe. In 2020, there were 12,700 new registrations of CNG-powered commercial vehicles in Europe, which fell to 6,500 in 2021. This decline was particularly noticeable in the heavy-duty commercial vehicle segment and the bus segment.
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Frequently asked questions
Some examples of cars that take CNG fuel include the Honda Civic NG, Ford Transit Connect, Chevrolet Impala, and the Fiat Panda Natural Power. Volkswagen and Volvo also have several models that take CNG fuel.
CNG fuel offers several benefits. Firstly, it is a clean-burning fuel that results in significantly fewer emissions compared to gasoline and diesel. This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Secondly, CNG fuel provides cost savings due to its lower fuel and maintenance costs. Additionally, CNG engines operate at a reduced noise level compared to diesel engines, creating a quieter environment.
One disadvantage of using CNG fuel is the limited infrastructure for refueling, especially for long-distance travel. CNG refueling stations may not be readily available in all areas, which can be inconvenient for drivers. Additionally, CNG-converted cars may require regular servicing and can experience a loss of power and efficiency.
