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NATURAL GAS

Natural gas powers about 150,000 vehicles in the United States and roughly 15.2 million vehicles worldwide. Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) can run on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG). CNG is the most widely used option (as well as the most commonly used alternative fuel) and is a good choice for high-mileage, centrally fueled fleets that operate within a city or regional area. For vehicles needing to travel long distances, liquefied natural gas (LNG) enables the cars to go longer distances on natural gas. The advantages of natural gas as a transportation fuel include its domestic availability, low cost, growing infrastructure, and inherently cleaner. 

Three Types of NGVs

Dedicated

These vehicles are designed to run only on natural gas and are spark-ignited (SI) engines. 

Bi-Fuel 

These vehicles have two separate fueling systems that enable them to run on either natural gas or gasoline, not both. The engines are almost always spark-ignited and use a spark plug to provide the ignition point. 

B20 must meet quality standards are prescribed by ASTM D7467. The Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office supported efforts to test and enhance biodiesel quality to ensure more fuel met ASTM standards. 

Dual Fuel

These vehicles are traditionally limited to heavy-duty applications and have fuel systems that run on natural gas and diesel simultaneously. They are compression-ignition (CI) engines and use diesel as the “spark” for ignition. They typically burn on the order of 50% natural gas and 50% diesel. 

Benefits and Considerations

Economic Impact & Job Creation 

Natural gas serves as a massive engine for the American economy, supporting millions of livelihoods across all 50 states. 

  • Job Creation: As of 2008, the industry supported over 2.8 million jobs. 
  • Future Growth: Unconventional gas development was estimated to add 1.4 million jobs by 2015, with an additional 1 million manufacturing jobs projected by 2025 due to affordable domestic supply. 
  • Widespread Development: Natural gas is responsibly developed in 31 states, creating a ripple effect of employment nationwide. 

Environmental & Emission Benefits 

Switching to CNG significantly reduces the output of harmful pollutants and greenhouse gases compared to traditional gasoline or diesel. 

  • Zero Evaporative Emissions: Because CNG fuel systems are completely sealed, they eliminate the “evaporative emissions” common in gasoline vehicles. 
  • Particulate Matter: CNG emits little to no particulate matter (PM-10, PM-2.5), offering a massive improvement over older diesel engines. 
  • Lower Toxicity: Natural gas emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants than conventional fossil fuels. 

The Power of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)

RNG (biogas) is derived from the decomposition of organic matter in landfills and livestock operations, offering unique advantages: 

Methane Capture

It prevents methane—which is 25 times stronger than $CO_2$ as a greenhouse gas—from entering the atmosphere. 

Carbon Neutrality

Using RNG can reduce carbon emissions by over 80%. 

Agricultural Byproducts

The process of creating RNG (anaerobic digestion) reduces odors and creates nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. 

Versatility in Application

Natural gas isn’t just for cars and trucks; its clean-burning nature makes it ideal for smaller, high-use applications: 

  • Industrial Use: Replacing gasoline in forklifts. 
  • Commercial Use: Powering commercial lawn equipment. 
  • Heavy Duty: Utilizing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for larger vehicle applications. 
Learn More

Southeast Florida Clean Cities Coalition Presents the City Furniture CNG Fleet Tour