Were not talking about gasoline, or the gas you get after eating at Taco Bell, we are talking about natural gas. Yes the same gas that comes out of your stove can power your car. Of course your car has to be made to run on natural gas. Now if you live in Europe you probably already know this but to us Americans this concept is not quite as common.
There is currently ONE production natural gas vehicle available in the United States and that is the Honda Civic GX. Across the Atlantic there are many choices when it comes to NGVs (Natural Gas Vehicles). This is mainly do to the difference in infrastructures between the US and Europe. According to Forbes there are only around 1,000 natural gas stations in the US.
Photo courtesy of Honda.com
There are many benefits of using natural gas to power vehicles with addition to great fuel economy according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
- they reduce carbon monoxide emissions 90 to 97 percent
- they reduce carbon dioxide emissions 25 percent
- they reduce nitrogen oxide emissions 35 to 60 percent
- they potentially reduce non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50 to 75 percent
- they emit fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
- they emit little or no particulate matter
- they eliminate evaporative emissions
So how come everyone is not driving a NGV?
THE GGG VIEW
The number one reason why everyone in the US is not driving a NGV is because there is only one available for purchase to the public. There are also companies that will convert your vehicle to an NGV but I believe they only work on fleet vehicles (i.e UPS, public transportation).
I think it is feeble that there is only one NGV available in the US. Now I do not think natural gas is a permanent solution to the rising oil prices but at this point anything will help. The US has to stop depending on foreign oil or gas prices will continue to get worse.
Whether it is NGV, electric, fuel cell or bio diesel, the US needs to decide on a uniform alternative fuel source or else none of them will catch on. The American public loves to claim they like freedom of choice but reality is they LOVE uniformity. Like Blu Ray vs. HD DVD, and VHS vs. Betamax, in the end the public won’t adapt until there is only one choice.
