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Domain: ngv.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to ngv.org.

Comments · 8

  1. Re:Getting a lot better by Anonymous+Canard · · Score: 2, Informative · on Hybrid/Electric Vehicles: Should I Buy?
    Funny you should mention the Crown Victoria, since it is one of two commercially available alternative fuel vehicles. Both the Ford Crown Victoria, and Honda's Civic are available in Natural Gas models. As alternative fuel vehicles go, these are pretty easy to use -- they handle like gasoline engines, are easy to refill (in California) at many PG&E stations in the area, at the cost of about half your trunk space, and about two-thirds the range between fill-ups of the same gasoline powered vehicle. Or, like an EV, you can fill up at home.

    Natural gas is almost entirely domestically produced. It costs less than $1.50 a gallon of gasoline equivalent, and it is renewable and clean. Plus, here in California an alternative fuel and low emission vehicle gets you permission to use the commuter lanes, even over toll-bridges, which can save considerable time and money.

    And in case you hadn't guessed, I like mine pretty well. Range and trunk space aren't good, but they aren't embarrasing either. Availability needs to be improved, but I happen to have a PG&E station just along my commute path, so it works out fine for me.

  2. Locating a Refueling Station for your NGV by gregger · · Score: 3, Interesting · on 10 Techno-Cool Cars

    I really want to buy the Civic GX. You get to use the HOV lane with 1 person (in California), and you get all the power of a "real" vehicle. Something the Honda Hybrid is missing. The Hybrid supposedly has a $2,000 federal tax deduction associated with it, but I talked to a dealer yesterday and he said the program was over. He might be lying.

    The refueling station isn't available yet. The GX is however. In the short term, you can find CNG refuelling stations on Web sites all over.

    This site lists sites in California and a couple other states.

    These stations are open 24 hours a day and allow you to use a credit card or a fuel card (from PG&E) to do a "quick refuel." A quick refuel takes place in about the same time as a regular car does at a gas station. Phill, the Home Refueller from FuelMaker is supposed to be out in late 2003. This would allow you to refuel overnight and get a few more miles out of each "tank."

    The price of CNG is a little less expensive on a mileage basis compared to gas (at least in California). It really depends on the price of unleaded.

    One contributor said keeping a spare fuel tank around might be an option, but I think those tanks at gas stations are LPG (propane), not CNG (methane). Maybe not, but the GX's tank is certainly bigger than what you find at the gas station.

    So, yeah, it's sort of a "commuter-only" car. I wouldn't be able to take this up to the mountains. Though if you look at the CA map, you'll find a number of stations that could allow you to get pretty far around California anyway.

    The problem I think about is that I'm not going to be "saving" much in terms of fuel costs. The Hybrid might save you some more money per year, or at least trips to the gas station. The CNG car does pollute even less than a hybrid does. Another plus is that a CNG vehicle operates more like a "real" car than a hybrid.

    Speaking of batteries, is the process for making the batteries more pollution causing? What about disposal?

    TTFN

  3. Re:motorcycle or tiny diesel by djenb · · Score: 1 · on Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Recommendations?

    > the Ford Crown Vic...possible these are only available for fleet sales.
    i was digging around for NGV info earlier this year and all things i found pointed to the Crown Victoria (fleet or personal) coming standard with a 4.6L V8 SEFI engine. Here is what ngv.org has to say and stats i have seen give it fuel economy equivalent to 23mpg highway. not bad for a big old landshark ;)

  4. Re:bigger vehicles by jchristopher · · Score: 1 · on Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Recommendations?

    Does it have to be a hybrid? The Ford Crown Victoria (a nice big car) is available in a compressed natural gas version which might work for you.

  5. HOV Lane Access by jchristopher · · Score: 1 · on Alternative-Fuel Vehicle Recommendations?
    Almost every poster is overlooking that the original question is being asked by someone in California. There are lots of things you can get away with elsewhere (converting your own car, etc.) that won't fly here.

    We have a special program that allows you to operate certain vehicles in the carpool lanes, even as a single driver! This should not be overlooked because it's a huge benefit in San Francisco or Los Angeles to be able to use the carpool lanes. The catch is that not all vehicles qualify - in fact, of the vehicles listed by the original poster, only the natural gas Civic GX would qualify.

    More information is available from the NGV.ORG Incentives page which provides a listing of tax benefits, rebates, and other incentives for natural gas vehicles.

    The hybrid vehicles being mentioned by other posters DO NOT quality for this program, despite being extremely low emissions vehicles.

  6. Try natural gas vehicles by jchristopher · · Score: 1 · on What Does the Future Hold for Low Emission Vehicles?

    Natural gas powered vehicles are an ideal solution and are already in use today. The fuel is cheap and domestically produced (no more overpriced gasoline from overseas), and a variety of vehicles are available, Chevy Cavalier, Honda Civic, Toyota Camry. For more info on natural gas vehicles see NGV.ORG

  7. Try natural gas by jchristopher · · Score: 1 · on Are Nitrogen Powered Cars The Future?

    An interesting alternative to gasoline and or diesel is compressed natural gas (CNG). It's abundant and domestically produced, inexpensive, and natural gas powered vehicles are available now, unlike the vaporware fuel cells, hydrogen, nitrogen, etc. You can learn more about natural gas vehicles at NGV.ORG

  8. Try natural gas fueled vehicles by jchristopher · · Score: 1 · on Why Do We Still Use Gasoline?

    Finally, a topic I know something about! I help produce NGV.ORG, a website dedicated to providing information about natural gas vehicles. The natural gas fueling infrastructure is growing quite rapidly. In California, you can now drive dedicated natural gas vehicles in the carpool lane (with appropriate decal), a real plus. There can also be tax rebates and other financial incentives to use natural gas. Natural gas Honda Civics, Ford Crown Victorias, Toyota Camrys, and other passenger cars are available NOW. Check it out.