Natural Gas Vehicles
Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)
Natural Gas suits all vehicle types from large trucks to light commercial vehicles (LCVs). Even passenger vehicles and taxis can benefit. NGVs best contribute to urban areas where their low emission levels can provide better urban air quality for us to breathe.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
CNG is Natural Gas that has been compressed for vehicle use. CNG remains as a gas, not a liquid like LPG. Natural Gas can also be liquefied at about minus 160ºC to form liquefied Natural Gas or LNG.
CNG and LPG are not the same. CNG is made up primarily of naturally occurring methane and is used in homes, restaurants and factories for cooking and heating. LPG is made from a mixture of propane and methane.
CNG can help Australians by:
- lowering fuel costs
- reducing harmful vehicle emissions
- decreasing our dependency on overseas fuels
Safety
- CNG is the safest commercially available transport fuel and is considered to be as safe as diesel.
- Its high ignition temperature and narrow flammability range ensure that it will not readily ignite.
- CNG is the only commercial fuel that is lighter than air, which means that in case of a leak, it dissipates harmlessly without spilling to risk the pollution of streets, local creeks and ground water.
- CNG is non-corrosive, non-toxic and lead free.
- Natural Gas is delivered by underground pipe networks and does not require delivery by trucks.>
Advantages and Benefits
Price
CNG is the lowest cost vehicle fuel commercially available and has a lower, more stable fuel price. Because it is available locally, it is not dependant on fluctuations of international oil prices or currency adjustments.
Savings
The low cost of CNG can provide significant fuel cost savings for transport operators, as you can see from the example.
| Simple Payback Comparison | ||
| Current annual diesel costs | ||
| 100,000 Lit @ 95c/Lit | $95,000 | |
| Dual Fuel costs | ||
| CNG (70%) 70,000m 3 @42c/m 3 | $29,400 | |
| Diesel (30%) 30,000Lit@95c/Lit | $28,500 | |
| Total Dual Fuel costs | $57,900 | |
| Annual fuel cost savings | $37,100 |
Local Product
Increasing the transport industry's use of CNG will reduce Australia's reliance on imported energy sources. Lowering fuel imports will also benefit Australia's balance of trade figures.
Future Energy Security
While Australia's known reserves of oil are diminishing, we have about 90 years supply of Natural Gas. This Natural Gas can easily meet the requirements for internal combustion engines until new technologies such as fuel cells can become commercially and financially viable.
Energy Values
The energy value of one cubic metre of CNG is similar to the energy value of one litre of diesel, and 50 per cent higher than one litre of LPG.
Other Related Sections
FUEL COST COMPARISION
VEHICLE CASE STUDIES
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
GOVERNMENT GRANTS
CONTACT DETAILS