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New chat member interested in being a CNG advocate
In the early 1980's, I managed a CNG demonstration project in which police vehicles, refuse collection trucks, and other vehicles were converted to CNG (actually, dual-fuel). The project proved CNG is a viable alternative, but gasoline prices began to fall, and the government incentives to use alternative fuels were eliminated.
I am very much encouraged by the current CNG movement. However, the Pickens Plan advocates converting large trucks to CNG and new passenger vehicles. There is a huge opportunity for conversion of existing private vehicles, but the EPA certification process is expensive, time consuming, and a major obstacle to private conversions.
The EPA representative managing the certification process in Ann Arbor, Michigan recently advised there is a proposed rule change planned for public comment by December, 2009. The changes proposed are unclear at this point but generally are supposed to facilitate more widespread CNG conversions.
Also, while new car manufacturers in the U.S. are building CNG vehicles, they are being sold in other countries. I believe auto manufacturers should be working more aggressively with the natural gas distributors and with firms providing fueling equipment to introduce those vehicles into the U.S. market.
Perhaps they are, but there is little news on that front. Ford actually made a CNG Crown Vic in the late 1990's but that was discontinued.
I am very much encouraged by the current CNG movement. However, the Pickens Plan advocates converting large trucks to CNG and new passenger vehicles. There is a huge opportunity for conversion of existing private vehicles, but the EPA certification process is expensive, time consuming, and a major obstacle to private conversions.
The EPA representative managing the certification process in Ann Arbor, Michigan recently advised there is a proposed rule change planned for public comment by December, 2009. The changes proposed are unclear at this point but generally are supposed to facilitate more widespread CNG conversions.
Also, while new car manufacturers in the U.S. are building CNG vehicles, they are being sold in other countries. I believe auto manufacturers should be working more aggressively with the natural gas distributors and with firms providing fueling equipment to introduce those vehicles into the U.S. market.
Perhaps they are, but there is little news on that front. Ford actually made a CNG Crown Vic in the late 1990's but that was discontinued.
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