Natural gas cars - CNG (Compressed Natural Gas)
So how is the hole in our ozone doing? It was back in the 1970’s when the hole in the ozone was first reported. The ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere is the layer that protects the earth from the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays. Since then people have been making changes in their daily lives to do their part in helping the longevity of our beautiful planet. Collectively, we have made progress and scientists predict the hole will be back to the 1980’s size in the future.
What kinds of changes helps make this happen? Pollution and the increased production in chlorine in the atmosphere caused the depletion. Using products that do not produce this harmful chemical is considered “clean”. The countless amounts of trucks, cars, airplanes, and trains traveling the surface of the earth are a huge contributor to the depletion in the form of vehicle emissions. Necessity for a vehicle that burned clean has created many alternatives. One of these alternatives is a vehicle that runs on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Yes the same stuff that you heat your home and cook your meals. When it first came out, your fuel source was restricted to your own home. Popularity in compressed natural gas grew rapidly. Now, there are many public fueling stations available for a trip as far as you like.
Natural Gas is tapped from wells all across the globe. It sounds good to the people looking to find a solution to the dependency of foreign oil. Yet by 2025, the increasing demand will include Mexico and Canada as natural gas power plants in addition to local sources. Choices for in fuel sources will even out the world’s economic structure.
Compressed Natural Gas is a clear, non-corrosive, and odorless fuel source that must be held in tanks under a lot of pressure. For vehicles to be able to use the gaseous form, the pressure needs to be above 3.100 pounds per square inch. Thick walled aluminum, steel, or composite containers store the gas for use. In a vehicle, several tanks are conveniently tucked under the body of the car. With a 40% savings on gasoline or diesel fuel, the sacrifice is easy to get used to. Unexpected explosions are not a concern. It is only when the gas is mixed with air at the rate of 5-15% when it becomes flammable. There is no air in compressed natural gas. When it is released to the atmosphere, it is lighter than air and dissipates quickly; so fast that it is diluted into inflammable state immediately.
Another type of natural gas is a new invention. It is very simple, but don’t just pour water into your gas tank. That would just give you a damaged car with an expensive repair bill. To convert a gasoline or diesel vehicle can be done with an affordable home kit which costs under $200. Just add backing soda into a jar of distilled water. The molecular structure of water will become altered into a high energy gas with some help from the wasted electricity produced by the battery. The result is the production of what is called “Brown’s Gas”, or HHO gas. It is also odorless, and clean. Combine HHO with your gasoline and some air. After tinkering under your car and the directions followed carefully, you have a home made hybrid. Yet some say it is uneconomical and too much can go wrong when you play scientist.
Some day can we put compressed natural gas into smaller containers and use them to power more appliances? Put them into cranes and other construction vehicles to build amazingly tall buildings. So tall that traveling would be more convenient if escalators connected the buildings. All powered by the affordable, clean and long lasting compressed natural gas.
It all seems very far away, but it's here before you know it. Cars running on natural gas. A good clean solution for the environment. It's easy to use, but it seems it will take a while before stations will sell this to the public. Just because it's almost brand new and manufactures of cars are still building cars that can handle natural gas.
Imagen; the avarage price of gasoline is now about $3.60. Filling up on compressed natural gas (CNG) will be something like $0.63 per gallon! Well thats what everybody likes I guess? Thats off course the country's lowest price for CNG.
Like 150,000 Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVA) are driving through America right now. Over 5 million worldwide! But this should be increasing fast. The website Gas2 reported that NGVA is saying that over 50 different car manufactures are producing 150 models of light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles with engines that run on CNG. Unfortunately, only one car brand is selling a car right now that runs on CNG. The brand is Honda with their Honda Civic GX.
Refueling this ride can be easy. The company FuelMaker build the machine called Phill. Phill is a compact unit that is easily installed at your home to your home gas line inside of your garage. It uses the same gas line you would use in your home. The range you can drive would be approximately 220-250 miles depending driving habits, fill presure and "fast fill" effects. One problem, to fill up your virtualy empty tank would take up to 16 hours to fill again. But keep in mind you can drive like 250 miles with it. So if you come home everyday, just refuel your car.
What this all means for the environment?
Well, the Honda Civic GX doesn't need any gasoline and is running on clean natural gas, making it nearly free of harmful emissions. Well that is great news!