Are you considering converting your car or light truck to run on compressed natural gas (CNG)? Besides being less expensive on a gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) basis, CNG is cleaner burning and, unlike petroleum, doesn't come from unfriendly places. However, finding and operating a natural gas vehicle (NGV) is more challenging in the U.S. than in most of the rest of the world, where about 8 million light duty NGVs are in operation.
The only light-duty NGV sold by an original equipment manufacturer here is the Honda GX. All others are retrofitted installations for select vehicles that use GM's 6.0-liter engine and Ford's 4.6, 5.4, and 6.8-liter engines. Drivers in other countries have many more choices. One of the challenges for CNG engine system manufacturers in the U.S. is the time and expense to achieve certification for its conversion systems - as much as $200,000 or more per engine family. That severely limits our choices. Non-certified retrofit systems, allowed in other countries with less strict vehicle emission and safety rules, are sold here on the Internet.
Strict U.S. EPA rules cover the manufacture, sale, and installation of alternative fuel conversion systems. Even more stringent California Air Resources Board (CARB) rules apply in California and other states that have adopted these rules. These regulations do not allow consumers to install retrofit kits themselves. EPA considers non-certified installations as representing "tampering with a federally approved emission control system," an act punishable by a substantial fine.
Plus, EPA and CARB certified engine conversion systems are not sold to untrained or unapproved installers. There are only four SVM (Small Volume Manufacturers) of retrofit systems offering EPA certified systems - BAF Technologies, Baytech Corp., FuelTek Conversion Corp., and Impco Technologies - and only two of these are CARB certified. See www.ngvamerica.org/pdfs/marketplace/mp.analyses.ngvs-a.pdf for a listing of light duty conversions.
Before converting a vehicle to CNG you really must make sure you can conveniently refuel it. While there are about 800 CNG fueling locations in the U.S., not all are open to the public and one may not be located near you. If the fueling infrastructure is sparse in your region, this could become an important consideration if you plan to make a trip out of your locale where CNG fueling stations might be difficult to find. This is less of a problem for bi-fuel conversions that can run on either natural gas or gasoline. A listing of CNG locations can be found at www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/natural_gas_stations.html.
There is another option. You can get around the lack of public refueling by installing a home fueling device like the FuelMaker 'Q' and Phill, also from FuelMaker. These are 'time-fill' fueling devices that don't store CNG, but rather compress and refuel directly from a household's gas supply. With both of these devices fueling is done overnight or whenever a vehicle is idle.
The cost to convert to CNG can range from about $12,500 to $22,500 depending on the vehicle, engine, size of CNG tanks needed, and who does the converting. The greatest expense is for the CNG tanks, and the more capacity and number of tanks, the more expensive the conversion. While this may be daunting for many consumers, fleet users - like taxi companies and delivery services - can often justify the expense because of the fuel savings amortized over many miles. The FuelMaker 'Q' refueling appliance costs just under $10,000 plus installation and the Phill is priced at about $4500 plus installation.
Tax credits, rebates, and other incentives can offset the cost of a conversion. For example, the federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 includes an income tax credit that offsets 50 to 80 percent of the incremental cost of purchasing a new dedicated NGV. It applies to the cost of converting an existing vehicle with an EPA- or CARB-certified retrofit system. In addition, there may be state tax credits. Home CNG refueling devices may qualify for additional federal and state tax incentives as well.
Generally, it's not cost-effective to convert an older vehicle to natural gas unless it has lots of mileage left and the investment can be recouped through fuel savings. If you don't want to make this substantial investment, you might consider purchasing a used NGV. Government agencies use a large number of light-duty NGVs that are often sold after reaching a certain age or mileage. For example, federal agencies' used vehicles can often be found at www.autoauctions.gsa.gov/index.cfm
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