Natural Gas Vehicles

Cars, trucks, and buses are the greatest contributors to air pollution in the United States. Emissions from these vehicles contribute to smog around metropolitan areas, low visibility, and various greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), about half of all air pollution and more than 80 percent of air pollution in cities are produced by cars, trucks, and buses in the United States.

The oil and natural gas industry has transformed into one of the most technologically advanced industries in the United States over the past thirty years. New innovations have reshaped the industry into a technology leader. Select innovations have had a profound effect on the potential for natural gas. Because of the air pollution problem coming from gasoline and diesel powered cars, trucks, and buses, vehicles operating on compressed natural gas are being considered as a wise alternative fuel solution.

Using natural gas to fuel our vehicles will cut down on the high levels of pollution caused from gasoline and diesel engines. In fact, according to the EPA, compared to traditional vehicles, vehicles operating on compressed natural gas have reductions in carbon monoxide emissions of 90 to 97 percent, and reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of up to 25 percent. Nitrogen oxide emissions can be reduced by 35 to 60 percent, and other non-methane hydrocarbon emissions could be reduced by as much as 50 to 75 percent. These numbers would clean up the air tremendously. Because of the relatively simple makeup of natural gas in comparison to traditional vehicle fuels, there are fewer toxic and carcinogenic emissions from natural gas vehicles, and virtually no particulate emissions. There will be no soot or dirt flying in the air. The environmentally friendly attributes of natural gas are over-whelming. More natural gas vehicles will definitely contribute to reducing air pollution. New, stringent federal and state emissions laws require an improvement in vehicle emissions over the foreseeable future.

Fuel intensive vehicle fleets, such as taxicabs and public buses are the main vehicles fueled by natural gas today. However, virtually all types of natural gas vehicles are either in production today for sale to the public or in development, from passenger cars, trucks, buses, vans, and even heavy-duty utility vehicles. Despite the advances, a number of disadvantages of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) prevent their mass-production. Higher initial cost, limited driving range, trunk space, and lack of refueling infrastructure pose impediments to the future spread of natural gas vehicles.

However, it is expected that with improved technology, research, and fueling infrastructure, the use of NGVs in non-fleet settings will increase in the future. Natural gas vehicles present an exciting opportunity to reduce the damage of one of our most polluting sectors. Companies like
Triple Diamond Energy Corporation, interested in changing the future for the better are keeping knowledgeable of the advancements being made.