[SeaGypsy]

This does seem to be an inevitability. NG being the only abundantly available fuel in many of the places dependent on autos over the next few decades. Reliance on rare earth metals seems to be the Achilles heel of other alternatives at this stage. As petroleum products continue their inexorable climb, so will consumer demand drive NG vehicles into serious scale production as well as refill stations for these vehicles. Methane is also relatively cheap to produce from waste products or specialized crops, adding another source for places without abundant underground gas.

[Plantagenet]

GE forms partnership with NG giant Chesapeake Energy to develop new technology for CNG and to build CNG gas stations in USA

With GM and Chrysler committing to build CNG pickup trucks starting next year, more CNG gas stations will be needed across the USA

GE and CHK propose to increase the number of CNG gas stations in the USA by over 50% in just the first year of their new partnership

[dissident]

Nobody wants to expend the effort and money to deal with reality. It is so much easier to wish that simple fixes would rain down from heaven. I am sure this has been raised multiple times before, but where is the capacity to transition transportation to natural gas? If 71% of the US oil consumption goes into transportation, then the need would be for about 72 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to replace it. The US consumed 61 billion cubic feet of gas per day in 2011. Does anyone seriously expect production to increase by over 100% or even by 25%, which would cover about 21% of the energy need for transportation? We'll get it all from Qatar and Canada? Canada can't dial its natural gas production to accommodate such demand levels.

[Shaved Monkey]

Mercedes seems to be gambling on electric hybrid mainly with diesel but also petrol for US and other markets
http://news.drive.com.au/drive/motor-ne ... 1uleb.html

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dissident', 'w')here is the capacity to transition transportation to natural gas? If 71% of the US oil consumption goes into transportation, then the need would be for about 72 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas to replace it.

[JRP3]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SeaGypsy', ' ') Reliance on rare earth metals seems to be the Achilles heel of other alternatives at this stage.

[JRP3]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', ' ')

1. The public bus system here runs on CNG

Barcelona---where you take a CNG bus to the beach!

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JRP3', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', ' ')

1. The public bus system here runs on CNG. Barcelona---where you take a CNG bus to the beach!

[Shaved Monkey]

Here is detailed information on LPG vehicles in Australia
Includes payback on conversions
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'C')NG and LNG doesn't lend itself well to light vehicles due to limited refuelling facilities, difficulties in storing the fuel and the weight of the storage cylinders.

[Plantagenet]

Interesting link about Australia, Shaved.

Australia seems to be more into using LNG (LPG), while many other countries, including the USA, are building out CNG infrastructure.

I note Australia is self-sufficient in NG---currently a big net exporter.

It also says:
"LPG can be obtained from more than 3200 retail outlets around Australia. In some country regions you may need to plan your refuelling stops in advance.

Detailed locations can be found on the Australian LP Gas Association website and on many fuel company websites. Major LPG suppliers and their service stations may also have printed lists available."


When I visited Australia there were areas in the Bush where it was so remote and there were so few people and facilities you'd probably want to plan your normal gasoline refueling in advance, much less LNG refueling.

[JRP3]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', ' ') My friend here invited me over to lunch, and I was pleased to see the apartment, even though it was in a very old building in the gothic quarter, and been recently set up so it now had natural gas heating (forced air).

[Tanada]

I toyed with the idea of getting a CNG Honda because I have a filling option at the Meijer fuel station 6 miles from my home. Unfortunately the cost added for the option erases the fuel cost advantage so I decided to stick with my old civic for another year.

[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '
')
When I visited Australia there were areas in the Bush where it was so remote and there were so few people and facilities you'd probably want to plan your normal gasoline refueling in advance, much less LNG refueling.

[Plantagenet]

I was just checking the numbers on the cost of CNG vehicles in another thread, and I realized that a CNG car can actually cost less than a non-CNG car.

Check it out: " Suggested retail for the Civic GX is $24,590 ..... A comparably equipped, gasoline-powered Civic LX lists for $17,760." --Consumer Reports

If you compare the two, you see that the Honda CNG car lists for $6830 more than the standard Honda----BUT don't forget the $7500 per car tax deduction in the USA for buying an energy efficient vehicle---include this deduction and the CNG Honda which can run on CNG and gasoline--- may actually be a tiny bit cheaper than a regular old Honda that only runs on gasoline.


Volvo CNG car available now in Sweden

[kublikhan]

Your numbers are off. First, the tax credit for natural gas cars was not $7500, it was $4000. Secondly, the tax credit has expired.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')n earlier federal $4,000 tax credit for the natural gas Civic has expired.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kublikhan', '.')..the tax credit has expired.

An earlier federal $4,000 tax credit for the natural gas Civic has expired. Gas price relief

[Lore]

So, once again, Obama is your fall back position when you come up empty?

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'S')o, once again, Obama is your fall back position when you come up empty?

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '
')Can we return to discussing Natural Gas vehicles now?