Natural Gas Vehicles | Case Studies

How do Natural Gas Vehicles Work?

Passenger and light commercial vehicle NGVs work in much the same way as LPG powered vehicles:

  • A conversion kit is fitted which allows the vehicle to operate on either CNG or petrol
  • In petrol applications there is a slight loss of power - similar to LPG conversions.

Diesel powered truck NGVs are powered differently to petrol NGVs.

Dual fuel - A diesel vehicle can be fitted with a conversion kit so it can be fuelled by both CNG and diesel at the same time.

  • About 70% of the diesel can be substituted with CNG
  • The diesel provides pilot ignition and CNG completes the burning process
  • Full diesel use can be selected at any time
  • Full diesel operation is automatically selected if CNG supply runs out
  • Usually this system is completely computer controlled providing safe and effective engine use

Dedicated - Large CNG engines also operate very successfully in spark ignited mode with CNG as the only fuel. These engines provide all the power of a diesel engine but instead of compression ignition they use conventional ignition.

Both dual fuel and dedicated applications are cost efficient and emission efficient, and provide the same drivability as diesel.

Urban Trucks and Buses

The larger the vehicle, the better the benefits.

  • CNG can be used in diesel applications with no power loss
  • CNG can help reduce harmful vehicle emissions
  • Save up to 10 cents per kilometre
  • Up to 50% quieter than diesel vehicles

CNG Applications

CNG offers cost saving and emission benefits to most areas of the transport industry including:

  • Local Council vehicles - neighbourhood refuse collection, depot based vehicles, street sweepers and Council contractors
  • Metropolitan passenger buses
  • Local delivery trucks and LCVs
  • Taxis

Natural Gas Vehicles in Operation

Unley Council - Adelaide

This was the first commercial CNG fleet in Australia. In October 1999, Collex Waste commenced operation with their Isuzu fleet of 6 dual fuel CNG refuse collection vehicles. Major benefits have included fuel cost savings, a reduction in neighbourhood emissions and engine noise reduction of up to 50%.

Melbourne City Council

The refuse collection fleet at Melbourne City Council is powered by CNG. The 6 Isuzu trucks operate throughout the Melbourne CBD and near surrounding suburbs. In addition to reducing fuel costs, some of the factors that assisted MCC in the decision process were vehicle emissions and a reduction of engine noise by up to 50%.

Natural Gas Buses

Passenger Transport Board - Adelaide. From its first 10 buses introduced in 1988, the CNG fleet has grown to number 220 in the year 2004. Most Australian capital cities benefit from breathing cleaner air, thanks to the strong growth in CNG buses. These urban based vehicles reduce particulates (fine soot particles) by as much as 95% reducing the impact of the urban atmosphere on asthmatics and the risk of lung disorders.

City CNG Buses

Adelaide 220
Melbourne 20
Sydney 300
Perth 100
Brisbane 150

Original Equipment Manufacturers

The following companies manufacture CNG engines and/or vehicles in their factories. The equipment carries a factory warranty, and qualified personnel are available to carry out sales and servicing.

  • MAN
  • Iveco
  • Mercedes
  • Volvo
  • Cummins
  • Caterpillar
  • Isuzu
  • Mitsubishi
  • Toyota
  • Hino
  • Nissan
  • Honda
  • Mazda

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