Natural Gas Benefits
Natural gas is a domestically available, inherently clean-burning fuel. Using compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) as vehicle fuels increases energy security, paves the way for fuel cell vehicles, and improves public health and the environment. Using renewable natural gas provides even more benefits.
Increasing Energy Security
The United States imports more than 60% of its petroleum, two thirds of which is used to fuel vehicles in the form of gasoline and diesel. The demand for petroleum imports is increasing. With much of the worldwide petroleum reserves located in politically volatile countries, the United States is vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Natural gas vehicles are an immediate solution to the nation's energy security needs. Most of the natural gas consumed in the United States is produced domestically or by politically stable countries, and an extensive natural gas infrastructure exists. Using natural gas vehicles instead of conventionally fueled vehicles reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil and increases energy security.
Paving the Way for Fuel Cell Vehicles
Fuel cell vehicles powered by hydrogen might be the future of transportation. Natural gas vehicle and infrastructure development can facilitate the transition to this technology. With the highest hydrogen-to-carbon ratio of any energy source, natural gas is an efficient source of hydrogen—in fact, it is the number one source of commercial hydrogen used in the United States. The vast U.S. network of natural gas transmission lines offers the potential for convenient transportation of natural gas to future refueling stations that reform hydrogen from the gas.
Because natural gas and hydrogen are both gaseous fuels, lessons learned from developing natural gas technologies might aid the transition away from conventional liquid fuels to gaseous hydrogen fuel. Issues shared by natural gas and hydrogen include:
- Fuel storage
- Fueling
- Station siting
- Training
- Facilities
- Public acceptability
Vehicles fueled with hydrogen-natural gas blends (HCNG) are a first step toward a hydrogen-based transportation network. Fueling vehicles with HCNG can help build demand for a hydrogen infrastructure while providing enhanced emission reductions.
Protecting Public Health and the Environment
Compared with vehicles fueled by conventional diesel and gasoline, natural gas vehicles can produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and toxic and carcinogenic pollutants as well as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called the natural gas Honda Civic GX the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle on Earth. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Guide to compare the Civic GX with other cars for environmental impact and petroleum savings.