Tweet
A few words on converting. The only vehicles suitable for a low cost (used equipment , do it yourself ) conversions are pre smog control pickup trucks.
Lots of room for tanks and easy to adapt vapor type equipment ( very sim. to propane conversion equipment , except tanks and regulators ). As far as fuel injected vehicles, good shop conversions will cost well over $12,000 if you can even find a vendor to do so.
For all in the mountain and mid-west states with very low cost cng, this is only temporary.
In california 5 years ago we had cng at public station with puc , federal and state subsidies , I was paying under .99 gge at times. Now we pay a little less than gasoline.
The actual cost of compression at a public station is about $.75 /gge, if you really look at equipment cost, maintenance and electricity, add in about $1.00 gge for actual fuel cost at current prices , add in a profit and presto, $2.00 gge !
Add in a 20% loss in power and fuel mileage for a duel fuel , or a non cng dedicated engine too. You can run 12 to 1 compression on a dedicated engine to nget pack power and mileage, but on not duel fuel.
90 % of my miles from 2002 on are on gng in a factory crown vic and civic gx , but only to get carpool lane access in the city.
Overall , find a factory cng vehicle , or forget it.
Lots of room for tanks and easy to adapt vapor type equipment ( very sim. to propane conversion equipment , except tanks and regulators ). As far as fuel injected vehicles, good shop conversions will cost well over $12,000 if you can even find a vendor to do so.
For all in the mountain and mid-west states with very low cost cng, this is only temporary.
In california 5 years ago we had cng at public station with puc , federal and state subsidies , I was paying under .99 gge at times. Now we pay a little less than gasoline.
The actual cost of compression at a public station is about $.75 /gge, if you really look at equipment cost, maintenance and electricity, add in about $1.00 gge for actual fuel cost at current prices , add in a profit and presto, $2.00 gge !
Add in a 20% loss in power and fuel mileage for a duel fuel , or a non cng dedicated engine too. You can run 12 to 1 compression on a dedicated engine to nget pack power and mileage, but on not duel fuel.
90 % of my miles from 2002 on are on gng in a factory crown vic and civic gx , but only to get carpool lane access in the city.
Overall , find a factory cng vehicle , or forget it.
Convert a 3/4 ton truck to dedicated CNG, gain $8,000 in federal tax credits. In Utah we get another $2,500 from the state (even for bi-fuel). That $13k conversion now ends up costing you anywhere from $5k down to $2,500.
Comment