High performance and low operating cost are why thousands of fleet operators have switched to natural gas powered vehicles. Using natural gas as a transportation fuel is cleaner, safer, abundant and available. Dedicated natural gas vehicles (NGVs) powered solely by natural gas, deliver the best performance because the engines can be designed to take full advantage of the fuel's high octane rating. Bi-fuel NGVs can operate on either natural gas or gasoline. These NGVs are designed to switch automatically to gasoline when the natural gas fuel tank reaches empty. This allows continuous operation while driving into areas where natural gas fueling stations may not be present.
Natural gas is the cleanest burning alternative fuel. Exhaust emissions from NGVs are much lower than those from gasoline or diesel vehicles. For example, NGVs offer:
- Approximately a 70% lower carbon monoxide emission level
- 89% lower non-methane organic gas emission level
- 87% lower nitrogen oxides emissions
In addition to reducing pollutants, NGVs also emit significantly lower amounts of greenhouse gases and toxins than gasoline vehicles.
Safe Handling and Storage
A NGV can be refueled in a matter of minutes without the worry of fumes or spilling toxic liquids like gasoline, diesel or ethanol. In addition, the fuel storage cylinders used in NGVs are much stronger than gasoline tanks and provide better crash protection, making accidental ignition or combustion of natural gas unlikely. Even if a leak were to occur in a NGV fuel system, the natural gas would dissipate into the atmosphere because it is lighter than air. Natural gas has a high ignition temperature of approximately 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, compared to about 600 degrees Fahrenheit for gasoline and 900 degrees for diesel.
Benefits
- Up to 10% increased power and efficiency
- Lower fuel price per gallon equivalent
- Cleaner burning
- Less maintenance
- Abundant supply
- Safer handling and storage
Who Can Benefit From This Technology?
Natural gas powered vehicles are suitable for all kinds of businesses that operate vehicles. A few examples include the U.S. Postal Service, police departments, and transit bus fleets. All major car, truck and bus manufacturers produce vehicles that operate on natural gas. With more than 1,300 natural gas fueling stations in the United States finding a place to refuel is becoming easier. See a Michigan map* for a natural gas fueling station near you.
The Economics
An equivalent gallon of natural gas costs less than a gallon of gasoline, diesel fuel, ethanol or propane. Other alternative fuels can cost up to $1.70 per gallon equivalent compared to natural gas, which costs about 79 to 90 cents an equivalent gallon.
For details on converting your existing fleet to natural gas, call us at 1.888.FUELNGV or e-mail us today.
To learn more about NGVs, visit the Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition and Alternative Fuels Data Center Web sites.
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