Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

[josch]

Is it just me or does it seem like since gas prices have gone below $4 /gal again that average Americans seem all happy again and maybe why cng forums are getting far less visits and postings? Is this just total coincidence? If this were true, then this backs why I was welcoming high gas prices (even though I don't even own a CNG vehicle), just so this dang country would stay motivated to continue with this process of change to get off our addiction to oil. Perhaps the oil industry (on a global level) caught on to the risk of having the pain too close to the threshold and turned down the prices so people would feel better again and continue to calmly suck on the bottle?

Surely this must be just but a figment of my imagination?

[Airliner]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

I think you're probably exactly right. It's sad that gas at $3.60 per gallon at the pump makes us complacent. You can see the weakening interest in the CNG car prices here in Utah too. Once the mass media realizes the issue is more about dependency on foreign oil and less about gas over $4 per gallon, we'll be back on track. Until then, I guess we can still take comfort in knowing we're paying far less than gas still.

[bakaroma]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

Hmmmm. I have been on less, but I don't think it is because of prices.

[John Mitton]

registrations are up

Our member list keeps clicking upwards, now over 4,150... I think many are interested in learning about alternative fuels but perhaps most of the questions have already been answered in prior discussion threads.

[Curtis]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

John's right, people are still seeking out answers to what they can do about gas prices. I think the reality of how tenuous our position is relative to fuel prices.

I've seen the pattern you describe every time gas prices drop, even though they may have gone up $1.50 and dropped $.75. I think this last run-up was an eye-opener for many that were willing to simply ride it out in the past.

Even though oil dipped below $100 bbl again today, I doubt that anyone is foolish enough to believe that $5 a gallon gas couldn't be as close as a well placed hurricane, or an oil refinery fire away. The S. East is sampling just such a situation now.

We remain perched upon the razors egde. To deny it is sheer foolishness.

[josch]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

Yeah, I really wished people could see the really big picture and know that in the long run we are better off to continue on this new energy venture into alternative domestic energy. Part of what I fear though is that just because Utah is still gung-ho about CNG (due to ULTRA-low prices comparatively), I see many other states (using CNGprices.com as a reference) where CNG is $2.50-2.90 /GGE (if it's even readily available) and I feel like many people in those states just don't see any benefit to spending $10-12k for conversion or buying into it now that gas is back into the $3 range again. I wish there was a way to get national CNG prices down in the lower 48 into the $1.00-1.50 range so that then people across the country as a whole will move this thing right along. Because the demand of Utah alone I don't think is enough volume to really create a market for manufacturers to move on CNG with much effort. Perhaps the US automakers ought to move forward on CNG manufacturing anyway though, and just push the overseas markets really strong until Americans finally decide it's time to step in with both feet?

Anyway I guess we'll see what happens

[Curtis]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

I see what you're sayin, Josch. Trust me, the next gas run up will resolve that issue. We Americans are responsive primarily to the pain in our wallets. Ease the pain a bit and the urgency seems to fade.

Don't worry, the world is more than willing to create a little urgency for us once again... just a matter of when. I doubt we'll have to wait all that long. In the mean time, the smart ones are putting themselves in place to respond when it does.

[delgriffith]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

I don't think it's reasonable to expect individual people to see the big picture. They are rightly concerned mainly with cost. Streamlining EPA certification and encouraging manufacturers to offer bi-fuel vehicles would make a huge difference. Bi-fuel vehicles don't leave you exposed to nearly as much risk if the price of oil drops, and give you freedom to travel outside of areas with CNG filling stations. For me that would make all the difference, but I can't find bi-fuel vehicles that are EPA certified.

[John Mitton]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

...but I can't find bi-fuel vehicles that are EPA certified.

EPA certified bi-fuel retrofits are available from Baytech and FuelTek, listing is here:

http://www.ngvamerica.org/pdfs/marketplace/MP.Analyses.NGVs-a.pdf

[Lancer Automotive Group]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

We are currently doing the FuelTek conversion on 5.4L F250 and F350. With in the month we will be adding a EPA certified Bi-Fuel Ford Focus

[delgriffith]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

The list of bi-fuels is pretty much limited to late model vehicles with GM 6.0l v8, save for one model year of F-250/350. That's way too restrictive. Ought to be dozens of engines on the list, going back several model years. Anyhow I should say instead that I can't find the bi-fuel vehicle I want.

[wrenchmonkey]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

The list of bi-fuels is pretty much limited to late model vehicles with GM 6.0l v8, save for one model year of F-250/350. That's way too restrictive. Ought to be dozens of engines on the list, going back several model years. Anyhow I should say instead that I can't find the bi-fuel vehicle I want.

You and about 6Million other people! You can thank the beauty of Bureaucracy for that. Hopefully we'll get some changes pushed through, that will allow kits that have already been certified, to not have to be RE-Certified every year. That should free up a lot of kits from previous years makes and models, to go back into production.

Like Josch said though, the urgency seems to have been lost on the masses when gas prices started falling back down. 2 years ago, if you'd told me people would be excited about $3.60/gallon gas, I would have laughed you right off the forums...

It's not gonna stay cheap though. Oil shot up $25/barrel today, due to that awesome little "bail-out" plan that's pushed our debt to over $11.3Trillion. Oil might stay below $4 again for a few more weeks, but just you wait 'till AFTER the elections...

[jetboatjohnny]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

That debt comes out to $37,000 for every man woman and child in the US.

[Highmarker]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

Have you not seen an increase of traffic on the highways since gasoline prices fell below $4/gal.? My wife and I have.

[wrenchmonkey]

Re: Is this CNGforum getting less hits lately?

That debt comes out to $37,000 for every man woman and child in the US.

I don't know about you, but that's more money than I made last year...