CNG is an abbreviation of Compressed Natural Gas. Compressed Natural Gas is the same fuel that is pumped to your home and powers your water heater, stove, and grill.
Compressed Natural Gas is used to fuel your car, just like gasoline. Currently, its primary adoption has been found in the trucking industry.
Natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than gasoline. This actually has a beneficial effect on multiple parts of the automobile. Not only will it extend the life of the engine, but it will also extend the life of your oil change and fuel lines!
Tests have shown that the horsepower of a CNG powered vehicle is slightly less than that of a gasoline powered vehicle.
There should be no change in your mileage and even possibly a small increase in your mileage! See CNG United for more info on how mileage is affected.
Yes, CNG is very safe. Almost all gasoline tanks on everyday automobiles are made out of thin sheet metal. CNG tanks are made of steel and designed to withstand high speed crashes without being damaged.
When converting your vehicle to CNG, there is a tank designed to fit your needs. Sizes range from the 2 gge (Gallon of Gasoline Equivalent) to 53 gge capacity tanks. CNG United covers these sizes and types of tanks in greater detail.
On average, nationally, the price of CNG is $2.01; this is compared to the national averages of gasoline and diesel respectively, which are $3.39 and $3.89, according to CNGPrices.com. In the state of Tennessee, the average is $2.01. We anticipate being able to sell CNG at the sub-$2 level.
Conversions for Compressed Natural Gas vehicles can cost as little as $1,000 dollars to as much as $13,000, depending on the source, the type of conversion (dedicated or bifuel), and state issued refunds. Although this is a wide range, most conversions on consumer vehicles fall in the $5,000 to $8,000 price range. As more and more companies begin to drop, the price to convert a car will drop as well.
There are currently no federal incentives to convert to CNG for most average consumers. The state of Tennessee currently only lets CNG vehicles drive in the High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes, regardless of the number of occupants in the car. Sky CNG has a list that covers the incentives offered by various states, here. There is another (more detailed list) available through NGVAmerica.com, here.
The short answer is yes, CNG really is cleaner than gasoline. While still a fossil fuel, it inherently has fewer carbon byproducts than other fossil fuels due to its chemical composition. For a more in-depth explanation, see our Why CNG? page.
CNG is cleaner, cheaper, and greener than other fossil fuels. As the United Stats begins exploring new energy options, natural gas is poised to be the new fuel of choice, bringing with it a slew of rebates and incentives for consumers to adopt it. See our Why Use CNG? page for a more in-depth look at why CNG should be your fuel of choice.