THE PRACTICAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS OF CONVERTING HIGHWAY VEHICLES TO USE NATURAL GAS AS A FUEL

The costs of converting to CNG include vehicle conversion costs, refueling station costs, and required operating and maintenance costs. These costs vary according to vehicles (how many storage tanks and how difficult the conversions are), the planned utilization of compressor capacity, whether the vehicles are refueled using slow-fill or fast-fill techniques and the refueling site preparation required. In this paper, these costs are explained and compiled for the conversion kits and refueling equipment presently available. A few case studies are explored to demonstrate what must be known to evaluate whether a fleet of vehicles has potential to save money using natural gas and how long it may take to see a return on the initial investment. Also discussed in the paper is an overview of CNG safety aspects, especially as related to road and operating restrictions that may exist in some local jurisdictions. Thus, in keeping with the intent of this paper to be a practical guide for decision-makers, reference is made to safety-related considerations and the restrictions which may be imposed by some states or municipalities on CNG vehicle operation.

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 47-69

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00381758
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Feb 29 1984 12:00AM