What is natural gas?
Natural gas is an odorless, nontoxic, gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons—predominantly methane (CH4). Because it is a gas, it must be stored onboard a vehicle in either a compressed gaseous or lique-fied state. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is typically stored in a tank at a pressure of 3,000 to 3,600 pounds per square inch.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is super-cooled and stored in its liquid phase at -260°F in special insulated tanks. Natural gas is sold in units of gasoline or diesel gallon equivalents based on the energy content of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel.
How and where is natural gas produced and distributed?
Natural gas is drawn from wells or extracted in conjunction with crude oil production. Biomethane, a renewable form of natural gas, is produced from decaying organic materials, such as waste from landfills, wastewater, and livestock. In recent years, 80% to 90% of the natural gas used in the United States was produced domestically. The United States has a vast natural gas distribution system, which can quickly and economically distribute natural gas to and from almost any location in the lower 48 states.
How is natural gas used?
Natural gas accounts for about a quarter of the energy used in the United States. About one-third goes to residential and commercial uses, such as heating and cooking; one-third to industrial uses; and one-third to electric power production. Only about one-tenth of 1% is used for transportation fuel.
Is natural gas safe for use in vehicles?
Yes. NGVs meet the same safety standards as gasoline and diesel vehicles and also meet the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) NFPA 52 Vehicular Fuel System Code. Natural gas has a narrow flammability range and, because it is lighter than air, dissipates quickly if released. NGV fuel tanks are strong and extremely puncture resistant.
What NGVs are available?
A wide variety of new, heavy-duty NGVs are available. The Honda Civic GX is the only light-duty NGV available from a U.S. original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Consumers and fleets also have the option of economically and reliably converting existing light- or heavy-duty gasoline or diesel vehicles for natural gas operation using certified installers.
How do NGVs work?
NGVs operate in one of three modes: dedicated, bifuel, or dual-fuel. Dedicated NGVs run on only natural gas. Bifuel NGVs can run on either natural gas or gasoline. Dual-fuel vehicles run on natural gas and use diesel for ignition assist. Light-duty vehicles typically operate in dedicated or bifuel modes, and heavy duty vehicles operate in dedicated or dual-fuel modes. A CNG fuel system transfers high-pressure natural gas from the storage tank to the engine while reducing the pressure of the gas to the operating pressure of the engine’s fuel-management system.
The natural gas is injected into the engine intake air the same way gasoline is injected into a gasoline-fueled engine. The engine functions the same way as a gasoline engine: The fuel-air mixture is compressed and ignited by a spark plug and the expanding gases produce rotational forces that propel the vehicle.
On the vehicle, natural gas is stored in tanks as CNG, or in some heavy-duty vehicles, as LNG, a more expensive option. The form chosen is often dependent on the range a driver needs. More natural gas can be stored in the tanks as LNG than as CNG.
How do NGVs perform?
Natural gas vehicles are similar to gasoline or diesel vehicles with regard to power, acceleration, and cruising speed. The driving range of NGVs is generally less than that of comparable gasoline and diesel vehicles because, with natural gas, less overall energy content can be stored in the same size tank as the more energy-dense gasoline or diesel fuels.
Extra natural gas storage tanks or the use of LNG can help increase range for larger vehicles. In heavy-duty vehicles, dual-fuel, compression-ignited engines are slightly more fuel-efficient than spark-ignited dedicated natural gas engines. However, a dual-fuel engine increases the complexity of the fuel-storage system by requiring storage of both types of fuel.
Natural gas is an odorless, nontoxic, gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons—predominantly methane (CH4). Because it is a gas, it must be stored onboard a vehicle in either a compressed gaseous or lique-fied state. Compressed natural gas (CNG) is typically stored in a tank at a pressure of 3,000 to 3,600 pounds per square inch.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is super-cooled and stored in its liquid phase at -260°F in special insulated tanks. Natural gas is sold in units of gasoline or diesel gallon equivalents based on the energy content of a gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel.
How and where is natural gas produced and distributed?
Natural gas is drawn from wells or extracted in conjunction with crude oil production. Biomethane, a renewable form of natural gas, is produced from decaying organic materials, such as waste from landfills, wastewater, and livestock. In recent years, 80% to 90% of the natural gas used in the United States was produced domestically. The United States has a vast natural gas distribution system, which can quickly and economically distribute natural gas to and from almost any location in the lower 48 states.
How is natural gas used?
Natural gas accounts for about a quarter of the energy used in the United States. About one-third goes to residential and commercial uses, such as heating and cooking; one-third to industrial uses; and one-third to electric power production. Only about one-tenth of 1% is used for transportation fuel.
Is natural gas safe for use in vehicles?
Yes. NGVs meet the same safety standards as gasoline and diesel vehicles and also meet the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) NFPA 52 Vehicular Fuel System Code. Natural gas has a narrow flammability range and, because it is lighter than air, dissipates quickly if released. NGV fuel tanks are strong and extremely puncture resistant.
What NGVs are available?
A wide variety of new, heavy-duty NGVs are available. The Honda Civic GX is the only light-duty NGV available from a U.S. original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Consumers and fleets also have the option of economically and reliably converting existing light- or heavy-duty gasoline or diesel vehicles for natural gas operation using certified installers.
How do NGVs work?
NGVs operate in one of three modes: dedicated, bifuel, or dual-fuel. Dedicated NGVs run on only natural gas. Bifuel NGVs can run on either natural gas or gasoline. Dual-fuel vehicles run on natural gas and use diesel for ignition assist. Light-duty vehicles typically operate in dedicated or bifuel modes, and heavy duty vehicles operate in dedicated or dual-fuel modes. A CNG fuel system transfers high-pressure natural gas from the storage tank to the engine while reducing the pressure of the gas to the operating pressure of the engine’s fuel-management system.
The natural gas is injected into the engine intake air the same way gasoline is injected into a gasoline-fueled engine. The engine functions the same way as a gasoline engine: The fuel-air mixture is compressed and ignited by a spark plug and the expanding gases produce rotational forces that propel the vehicle.
On the vehicle, natural gas is stored in tanks as CNG, or in some heavy-duty vehicles, as LNG, a more expensive option. The form chosen is often dependent on the range a driver needs. More natural gas can be stored in the tanks as LNG than as CNG.
How do NGVs perform?
Natural gas vehicles are similar to gasoline or diesel vehicles with regard to power, acceleration, and cruising speed. The driving range of NGVs is generally less than that of comparable gasoline and diesel vehicles because, with natural gas, less overall energy content can be stored in the same size tank as the more energy-dense gasoline or diesel fuels.
Extra natural gas storage tanks or the use of LNG can help increase range for larger vehicles. In heavy-duty vehicles, dual-fuel, compression-ignited engines are slightly more fuel-efficient than spark-ignited dedicated natural gas engines. However, a dual-fuel engine increases the complexity of the fuel-storage system by requiring storage of both types of fuel.
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