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Natural Gas Family Cars? CNG Cheap But Many Potholes

Investors.com -- The 76 station at the corner of Los Angeles' Olympic and La Cienega boulevards doesn't look much different from the myriad gas stations that dot the metropolis.

But next to the banks of traditional gas pumps is one dispensing a cheaper, cleaner-burning fuel to the occasional delivery van or Honda Civic equipped to use it.

The station is one of dozens in Southern California selling compressed natural gas. The region has one of the nation's densest concentrations of CNG fueling infrastructure.

That network is a key piece of the puzzle needed if motorists are ever going to convert en masse to the fuel, which currently goes for about $1.50 a gallon less than the equivalent amount of gasoline, thanks to decades' worth of new U.S. supply.

Dawn Of New Age?

Advocates have heralded the dawn of

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Submitted Sep 29, 2012 By: skb69sa

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,828 Points:1,637,220 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Oct 3, 2012 9:02:43 PM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse we got a new CNG station that opened recently.
Gmsclecarparts All-Star Author Oklahoma City Posts:707 Points:123,195 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 11:49:03 AM Ignore Gmsclecarparts Report Abuse Largest concentration of CNG powered vehicles in the country are around the OKC area. When the CNG powered Honda Civics were first sold, nearly all came to the OKC area. Chesapeake encouraged their employees & vendors employees to buy them. Today, there are tons of CNG converted GM, Ford, Dodge & Toyota pickups also driving around. Never hear of one running out of CNG, there are so many places to fill up.
greghahn Rookie Author Louisville Posts:23 Points:143,990 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Oct 1, 2012 5:33:41 AM Ignore greghahn Report Abuse How does it do in cold weather? Propane doesn't work well for generators in areas that have cold winters.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,402 Points:1,769,405 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 9:10:35 PM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse Natural Gas is not for me.
DrCashFlow Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:7,204 Points:1,654,785 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 9:08:04 PM Ignore DrCashFlow Report Abuse What a concept
carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:270,615 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 7:23:14 PM Ignore carranco Report Abuse remay, I agree.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:7,078 Points:2,143,965 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 11:25:46 AM Ignore remay Report Abuse "...have home filling stations feeding off the houses' natural gas line, rather than relying on sparse public infrastructure."Now that sounds reasonable.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,598 Points:2,373,210 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Sep 30, 2012 2:35:55 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Natural Gas Family Cars? CNG Cheap But Many Potholes and those Potholes may be Numerous. As more and more vehicles are built to use natural gas OR are converted over to natural gas, more natural gas will be used and the price could go up. Don't expect natural gas to stay low for very long, the trend for fuel prices is always up and up more! Many more fueling stations are needed to fuel those CNG vehicles once they are built and sold. Honda has a CNG vehicle on the market for quite a while now – Honda Civic GX. Get a refill kit for the home natural gas line and fill up there. If you are on the traveling, know where your fill up stations are and plan according. To all those that think a CNG or Hydrogen vehicle is a bomb waiting to happen. Why haven't gasoline vehicles exploded on the roads? It's just as explosive as CNG or Hydrogen or more so! Do you really think the government would allow bombs on the road? Engage brain and think about it! Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,445 Points:1,665,645 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 9:44:17 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse TIME WILL TELL!
jetskijerry Champion Author North Carolina Posts:4,036 Points:799,970 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 9:20:59 PM Ignore jetskijerry Report Abuse Would love to see this
Focus2 Champion Author Illinois Posts:7,910 Points:1,928,350 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 9:10:08 PM Ignore Focus2 Report Abuse Other countries have been using natural gas for a long time. There is a market for it in Japan, Korea and China. I had heard that Israel also uses it. Some of these countries already pay up to $6 a gallon for LNG which has raised eyebrows here in the oil market. Big Oil sees it as a way to supply those nations that are willing to pay that price for natural gas. Our gas supply will be condensed and exported as LNG. Alaska wants to get in on exporting theirs also. Its a big business and why wouldn't Wall Street want in on it as a commodity? Sure, if that happens, it could affect prices here in the USA as we would have to pay the world market price.
rahcat Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:2,681 Points:689,900 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 9:04:37 PM Ignore rahcat Report Abuse Go CNG
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,999 Points:1,639,950 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 9:01:03 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse Few people are going to buy a NG-powered vehicle while fueling stations are so rare. The infrastructure has got to be in place to support NG vehicles and there is the rub. It will cost billions to build the infrastructure; will there be a sufficient customer base to justify it?
phinsup67 Champion Author North Carolina Posts:5,365 Points:1,181,980 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:59:14 PM Ignore phinsup67 Report Abuse A step
PizzaMon Champion Author Philadelphia Posts:5,134 Points:1,886,455 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:58:29 PM Ignore PizzaMon Report Abuse The fuel of the future, maybe.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:57:24 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse To those saying that CNG cars won't happen in their lifetime, did anyone 25 years ago imagine that the bulky and expensive "carphone" would evolve into the pocket-sized personal computer that is the smartphone that practically everybody has in their hands today???
tidalwave3 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,367 Points:1,489,635 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:57:12 PM Ignore tidalwave3 Report Abuse Need many more for the consumers to feel secure about it :)
mcmonsta Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,347 Points:845,470 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:55:36 PM Ignore mcmonsta Report Abuse cheaper almost always works
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:54:13 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @heysailor says it's ,"A waste of good natural gas" What then is a better use for natural gas?
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,400 Points:615,595 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:53:30 PM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse It will take time...
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:52:37 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse @bobcatfan is correct that CNG has less energy in it than gasoline but that's why mileage and fuel costs are measured in "gasoline equivalents". The volume of natural gas needed to travel the same distance as with gasoline is greater, however the cost of that volume of CNG is still $1.50 per gallon of gasoline equivalent LESS.
CCLighthouse Champion Author Hartford Posts:1,136 Points:239,675 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:52:12 PM Ignore CCLighthouse Report Abuse It sounds good to me.
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,235 Points:824,100 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:49:17 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse They have a lot to do before it's at every fuel station.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:49:01 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Why can't we have both CNG and electric, @driveonby1? We're gonna need both if we plan on reducing our oil use. And reducing our use of oil is the quickest way to reduce gas prices.
danol43 Champion Author Modesto Posts:1,784 Points:613,895 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:47:21 PM Ignore danol43 Report Abuse Price is too high. You'll never break even.
Holly123 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:3,337 Points:817,685 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:47:09 PM Ignore Holly123 Report Abuse Right on Aviator Rob.
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:47:00 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Just remember @big_mac64, that the more people that switch to CNG means that many fewer people will be using gasoline which should also lower the price of that fuel.
30mpg80 Champion Author Lexington Posts:10,265 Points:1,514,580 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:46:29 PM Ignore 30mpg80 Report Abuse As more truck fleets switch to natural gas, more fuel outlets will be added
Aviator_Rob Champion Author New York Posts:3,992 Points:440,815 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:45:20 PM Ignore Aviator_Rob Report Abuse Good article. It sums up pretty well the pros and cons of CNG. That $5,600 price premium definitely needs to come down. Heck, hybrids and diesels only command around a $2,000 price premium. The first auto manufacturer that builds a mass produced car that can run on both gasoline and CNG will have a winner on their hands.
abacus44 Champion Author Toms River Posts:3,601 Points:773,885 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:43:33 PM Ignore abacus44 Report Abuse OK
tutaw Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,759 Points:870,220 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:43:15 PM Ignore tutaw Report Abuse ok
TNT2EC Champion Author Wisconsin Posts:5,113 Points:1,537,365 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:42:28 PM Ignore TNT2EC Report Abuse Like any other NG vehicle, great it you have NG available for refueling. That's why delivery and city vehicles work best.
pgerassi Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:11,036 Points:2,159,245 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:41:35 PM Ignore pgerassi Report Abuse Its better to have cars that can run on multiple fuels rather than one "magic bullet" because that "magic" fades after a while. When, not if, NG production slows, CNG will rise to more than gasoline.
suzmar Champion Author Texas Posts:2,223 Points:896,935 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:40:47 PM Ignore suzmar Report Abuse This story was posted last night, it is old.
big_mac64 Champion Author Tennessee Posts:10,600 Points:1,490,130 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:40:43 PM Ignore big_mac64 Report Abuse only $1.50 less per gal? Then by the time it gets to consumer markets (infrastructure + more models added), demand goes up and we end up paying the same or more cuz demand has gone up...screwed again!
Shakleelady31 All-Star Author Fort Wayne Posts:597 Points:424,325 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:36:49 PM Ignore Shakleelady31 Report Abuse Interesting.
Lou08 Champion Author California Posts:1,084 Points:252,410 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:35:58 PM Ignore Lou08 Report Abuse Stop the "popcorn" gas use "Greenie" CNG stuff...
g747 Champion Author Mobile Posts:4,682 Points:961,370 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:35:39 PM Ignore g747 Report Abuse The wave of the future of transportation.
driveonby1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:1,548 Points:264,865 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:31:52 PM Ignore driveonby1 Report Abuse Get rid of the government-funded electric junk and burn some natural gas!
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,920 Points:845,010 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:31:20 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Interesting article...
Azimuthal Rookie Author Hamilton Posts:32 Points:123,530 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:28:46 PM Ignore Azimuthal Report Abuse Where are the natural gas stations (if any) in Canada?
bobcatfan Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,708 Points:641,775 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:27:16 PM Ignore bobcatfan Report Abuse CNG engines produce fewer horsepower per pound than a gasoline engine. The burn cleaner, but not more efficiently. Distribution to consumers is minimal at best and non-existent in most markets. CNG looks good on paper, but not a real solution at this time.
FreeeBee Veteran Author Atlanta Posts:343 Points:227,995 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:22:46 PM Ignore FreeeBee Report Abuse I think CNG is good and cheap. why is it not being implemented all over in USA? It should be. I will sure go for it.
waynemustang Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,470 Points:1,691,235 Joined:Nov 2006	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:21:26 PM Ignore waynemustang Report Abuse There are almost NO natural gas stations.
bkplenge Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:1,635 Points:124,690 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:15:27 PM Ignore bkplenge Report Abuse Just hope the pothole speculators don't get hold of the natural gas market as well.
darkknight1 Champion Author Winston-Salem Posts:4,475 Points:923,535 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:15:22 PM Ignore darkknight1 Report Abuse ok
netman044 Champion Author Texas Posts:6,848 Points:1,306,875 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:13:50 PM Ignore netman044 Report Abuse Until the refueling infrastructure is developed CNG isn't practical for everyday transportation.
serrog Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:5,705 Points:1,539,830 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:11:31 PM Ignore serrog Report Abuse Not in my lifetime
blazerbob91 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:6,285 Points:1,910,995 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:09:45 PM Ignore blazerbob91 Report Abuse Still experimental for the majority of people
CAroadrunner101 Champion Author California Posts:1,962 Points:1,342,150 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Sep 29, 2012 8:09:00 PM Ignore CAroadrunner101 Report Abuse hmmm...