Learn about Natural Gas Alternative Fuel

Natural gas is produced from gas wells or through crude oil production. Natural gas is considered an alternative fuel due to its clean burning qualities and domestic availability. It can be stored and transported in a compressed gas state or liquid form.

Natural gas is readily available through an extensive nation wide infrastructure. Natural gas vehicles burn much cleaner than gas or diesel vehicles. A 90% reduction of carbon monoxide can be obtained when using natural gas over gasoline or diesel. The majority of natural gas used by the United States is produced domestically. Some experts believe large deposits of natural gas are available off the east coast of Florida. If these deposits could be safely harvested it could increase the domestic supply of natural gas which could reduce the cost to the consumer. When natural gas is produced from reservoirs, contaminants must be removed to meet standards to move the gas through the pipeline infrastructure. Water and sulfur must be monitored and removed as needed. The extensive pipeline infrastructure gives every continental state access to natural gas allowing natural gas vehicles to be easily refueled at most residence or commercial locations.

As of 2005 there are over 130,000 natural gas vehicles in the U.S. using both gas and liquid forms of natural gas. Vehicles can be 100% natural gas powered or use a combination of natural gas and gasoline or diesel fuel. Separate fuel tanks would be needed in vehicles that use a combination of fuels. The user can switch from natural gas to gasoline or diesel when needed. Better performance and lower emissions can be obtained from using natural gas over gasoline or diesel. One out of five transit buses in the U.S. are fueled with natural gas. These vehicles have fuel tanks that can withstand high impact, making them equivalent to conventional gasoline and diesel fuel tanks. The cost to operate a natural gas vehicle can be less than the cost of operating gasoline or diesel vehicles. The cost to purchase a natural gas vehicle or retrofit a conventional vehicle is higher. Retrofitting could cost up to $4,000.00.

Experts have found that natural gas can be used to make hydrogen used in fuel cells. Fuel cells hold a bright future for alternate fuel source vehicles. One of the greatest benefits of natural gas alone is the reduction of 90% of the carbon monoxide produced over gas or diesel vehicles.

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