Natural gas has been used as internal combustion motor fuel for years. The technology is mature and proven and the disrtibution infrastructure is in place. It has never been utilized in a significant way for cars. This could be easily done.
Natural gas is distributed to millions of homes. Most any car can be converted to use it. All that would be needed at the home is a compressor tapped into the gas line (on a separate meter to tax it, of course), a safe, idiot-proof coupliing and hose, and the car modification. I guesstimate that all of this would cost less than $5000 for most cars. Gas companies would have incentive to subsidize conversion costs, as they have other gas appliances for years.
If cars were manufactured new this way, the cost increase would be negligible.
Other advantages are: near- zero retail distribution costs, a stable market for natural gas that would stimulate drilling and moderate weather-induced price swings, and very low emissions. Demand pressure would be taken off of oil. NG cars would have much more power and range than electrics without all the unproven technology and high cost of hydrogen fuel cells and environmental disposal problems of discarded batteries.
(post continues on to first comment -->)
I agree
No opinion
I disagree![[SPAM]](http://www.whynot.net/images/flagasspam.png)
Flag as spam
Add your comment
(continuation of inital post)
There are disadvantages. Range and power is less than gasoline; on the order of 25-30%, still way better than other alternatives and acceptable for most commuting. Fill-up times are higher, probably an hour or so. Fill-up in an enclosed garage could be hazardous. it would be better done out doors. The fuel tank would add weight.
It seems silly to burn natural gas to generate electricity to charge batteries, or use it to produce fertilizer to grow and ferment corn for ethanol, when it could be put directly into a car. The net energy loss of those processes is profound. That energy could be put directly into motion.
This idea was submitted by TEDLISAGA on the forbes.com Why Not? forum.
Another possibility in the same line of thought is the use of pig and other animal manure to generate methane gas to use for power. At the moment tremendous lakes of this mess provide a nuisance to localities where they are openly stored and provide a severe pollution threat. I know that manure has been successfully used for vehicle power and a utilization of this potential would turn this liability into a resource.
You have two ideas, right?
1. Use gas instead of petrol in cars2. create your own 'gas-station' at your house.
In Europe Liquified Petrol Gas (LPG) is in use for many years, one can buy it at every petrol station. I don't know about the US, but it should be made easily available as it is in Europe...
But creating my own 'gas-station' is new, looks promising!
Natural gas conversion kids are available in several South American coutries. Many of the problems they have like reduced engine power are said to be resolved when cars are manufactured for gas burning. I have heard rumors that Fiat and VW plan to sell cars that come from the factory with gas kits installed. But not in the US, in countries that have NG already in use.
I had a natural gas kit added onto my previous car (a Fiat) and just wanted to add a little bit of thought to this idea based on my experience.
The cost is much lower than estimated, an after market kit cost me about US$400 and 1 day of labor and this included the tank and some substantial import tax because most of it was made in Italy. I assume it would be cheaper on the assembly line. Our car did have problems after installing the gas kit, problems that several mechanics report are common, at least with dual fuel gas/gasoline conversions. The engine grew weaker each month and completely lost power at low revs. Also the autonomy was about 1/3 of gasoline meaning it was necessary to tank up very often. I think a factory made system would do better but these problems may be part of the reason why we always hear rumors that a car company plans to manufacture NG cars (Fiat did for 1 year in Argetina and then cancelled) but they don't do it.
I have heard rumors that some companies with fleets in California use NG kits on their cars. I don't have confirmation on this though.
Here in Argentina, a lot of people use Natural Gas in their cars. As you said, there is a lot of advantages, and disadvantages.Is very cheap. You can run 110 km with about $4 (in Argentina: $ 3 = U$S 1). Equivalent distance using gasoline, you pay about $12 (U$S4).But..., 110 km is moreless the autonomy for one tank (you cant install more than one in the trunk of your little car (sorry, i´m not an english speaking). but, for example in a pick up, you can install two tanks, under the chassis, or in the box (Idon`t know how to say it), or both.Morover, the NG works hotter than the gasoline. Then small power engines suffer more, and sometime have problems.Bigger engines have less problems. For example, engines as american use would be OK to adapt NG systems.Referred to your oun "gas-station", I don´t think to be possible by now. Gas station have enormous compressors to get the gas from the line, and store it at 200 atm (!) of pressure. This process is some dangerous to manipulate in your house. Because of that, by now, only gasoline stations are approved to sell gas
My first thought is that it would be safer and more practical to convert the NG to methanol instead. Easier convertion, safer handling (no immense pressures needed) and environmentally safer (less Me leaks). This link describes how to do it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol#Production
The Southern California Gas Company allows home refueling conditionally upon the completion of an application and approval by the gas company. Professional installation is recommended. The application is available at their web site, www.socalgas.com/business/news_information/ngv/homefueling.shtml. If properly installed, it should not be any more dangerous than any other natural gas appliance, just a gas line hooked up to a compressor that compresses the natural gas into the tank.
Why not turn human sewage into methane gas to run cars on. I think at the moment they just dump it into rivers and the sea, seems like a waste of a good source of energy. I think there are bacterias called methanogens which love warm sewage who will do the conversion for free.
I already drive one of those, and the entire taxi and bus fleet of the local airport is CNG. However, the filling stations are few and far between and the filling adapters are complicated to learn. In addition, the tanks take up a large amount of space in the vehicle and the driving distance is quite short.
I read that Honda has a system in this system in production right now. There is a unit that is installed in your garage. Thios is the liquifier for nat gas, then there is a modified Honda Civic that is powered by the liquified nat gas. The refill of the car is about eight hours. I don't know what it costs but I think the state of California may subsidise it because of the low emmissions.
There is a limited supply of the natural gas used in homes. Also, in California, it powers 90% of electricity production, so you would be bidding on it. Most of our natural gas comes from overseas.
It is not likely that animal waste, etc, could meet the demand.