Posted on 10/31/2013 7:58:07 AM PDT by thackney
CARS and trucks powered by natural gas make up a significant portion of the vehicle fleet in many parts of the world. Iran has more than two million natural gas vehicles on the road. As of 2009, Argentina had more than 1.8 million in operation and almost 2,000 natural gas filling stations. Brazil was not far behind. Italy and Germany have substantial natural gas vehicle fleets. Is America next?
With natural gas in plentiful supply at bargain prices in the United States, issues that have limited its use in cars are being rethought, and its market share could increase, perhaps substantially.
According to Energy Department price information from July, natural gas offers economic advantages over gasoline and diesel fuels. If a gasoline-engine vehicle can take you 40 miles on one gallon, the same vehicle running on compressed natural gas can do it for about $1.50 less at today’s prices. To that savings add lower maintenance costs. A study of New York City cabs running on natural gas found that oil changes need not be as frequent because of the clean burn of the fuel, and exhaust-system parts last longer because natural gas is less corrosive than other fuels.
Today, those economic benefits are nullified by the initial cost of a natural gas vehicle — 20 to 30 percent more than a comparable gasoline-engine vehicle. But were production to increase significantly, economies of scale would bring prices down. In an interview by phone, Jon Coleman, fleet sustainability manager at the Ford Motor Company, said that given sufficient volume, the selling price of natural gas vehicles could be comparable to that of conventional vehicles.
It may be years before the economic benefits of natural gas vehicles can be realized, but the environmental benefits appear to be immediate.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Sounds like the price differential of electric cars to gasoline powered cars.
U.S. carbon emissions are falling, and will continue to do so as natural gas replaces both coal and petroleum. So we’ve finally found a way to lower the U.S. carbon footprint. Was it recycling? Nope. Was it conservation? Try again. It was fracking! Tell all leftist friends.
The real jewel in this article (aside from where it was published) is near the end, where EATON Corp. is promising a home CNG compressor-filling device for $500. Presently the cheapest such unit is the Phill, which is made by Italian BRK FuelMaker that sells for $4500.
Would a $500 CNG filling-station that works off your existing natural gas line be a deal-maker for you to buy a CNG vehicle?
Think also of the number of commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks (UPS, bread, beer, etc) and LTL haulers that return to a central hub every night. Refuelling would not be a barrier for these operators to move to natural gas vehicles.
It would be a mining process to get the pipe through the rock to get natural gas to my house. I can’t afford that even if gas was within 20 miles of my house. I don’t really have anything against natural gas. It is not practical for me. What are they getting for the propane tanks?
My thoughts in the elevator this morning!
Ick, NYTimes, hope you showered afterwards.
And where might that be?? As your home page gives no info.
I am in the Rockies of Colorado right next to the flood.
You seem to have the mistaken impression that the world should revolve around you.
Hydraulic Fracturing is used in oil production. It has been for many decades, not just shale plays.
I’m very dubious on the Eaton price.
A 3hp 125 psi air compressor from a dirtbag Chinese mfgr is in the range of 300 bucks.
A nat gas unit has to do a lot more than that.
UPS, Trash Trucks, Metro Buses and the like have been moving to Natural Gas for years.
UPS Announces Construction of 13 New LNG Stations
http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2013/163_news131009_ups_announces_construction_of_13_new_lng_stations/#ixzz2jDGKnmUZ
October 10, 2013
UPS ANNOUNCES LNG TRUCK FLEET EXPANSION POWERED BY WESTPORT HD SYSTEMS
http://www.westport.com/news/2011/ups-announces-lng-truck-fleet-expansion-powered-by-westport-hd-systems
FEBRUARY 22, 2011
Waste Management Opens 50th Natural Gas Fueling Station
http://www.wm.com/about/press-room/2013/20130731_CNGFuelingStation.jsp
July 31, 2013
I’m right across the divide to your west. It gets colder than -30 often here in the winter. My home, like almost all those in my town, is heated by natural gas.
Frack away, the cheaper the better.
Me too, but Since GE is involved, there may be government kickbacks involved.
I don't know what the tanks are selling for but I've seen two ads soliciting this now obsolete equipment.
Nat gas is delivering for about half the price per MM BTU vs. propane and the burn is hotter so restaurants can produce their products more quickly. Hookup and burner change out is free. That's really hard to beat...
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