Support for NGVs

On 18^th February, whilst at a visit to a Safeway distribution centre in Upper Malboro, Maryland, he called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Transportation to develop fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for future trucks and other heavier vehicles by March 2016.

On a well to wheels basis, natural gas vehicles produce 20 – 30% lower emissions at the tailpipe than a similar diesel or gasoline powered vehicles. They also emit much less particulate matter and volatile organic compounds than gasoline or diesel. Compressed natural gas (CNG) costs approximately 50% less than gasoline, and approximately 60% less than diesel.

Comments

Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, the American Gas Association said, ‘President Obama has continued to demonstrate his support for the role of natural gas in a clean energy future. Two years ago, the President released standards for cars and light duty trucks that broadened the application of manufacturers’ incentives for vehicles that run on alternative fuels to include natural gas. Natural gas vehicles will play a major role in helping to improve our environment and our national security, and provide real, long term savings to consumers, and we’re pleased to see his focus on the use of natural gas for the heavy duty sector.

‘The president highlighted how leaders in every sector of our economy are embracing natural gas because it offers real savings, real stimulus and real solutions. Supporting this evolution, natural gas utilities have contributed to a 60% growth in our national CNG refuelling infrastructure since 2009,’ McCurdy continued.

Report findings

The American Gas Foundation and IHS CERA have recently released a study entitled ‘Fueling the future with natural gas: Bringing it home’, which found that for Class 8 vehicles such as 18 wheelers, the fuel savings from switching to natural gas is significant enough that the extra upfront cost of approximately US$ 40 000 is recuperated in less than two years. A natural gas passenger vehicles will save an average of US$ 4500 in fuel costs over five years compared to a gasoline vehicle according to the same study.

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/gas-processing/19022014/support_for_ngvs167/