Although the US only accounts for about 1% of the world’s CNG vehicle market, the momentum is picking up in 2012. Currently, there are an estimated 120,000 natural gas vehicles in the US and almost 15 million worldwide. There around 1000 fueling stations. According to Pike Research there will be around 20 million CNG vehicles worldwide by 2016.
It’s great to see state’s like Pennsylvania promoting CNG vehicles. A new Act in Pennsylvania will provide $20 million in grants towards purchasing or converting to a CNG vehicle. The grant money is for non-profit organizations, local government, and state universities.
Harrison County in Texas is looking to replace existing dump trucks with larger CNG powered dump trucks. These larger CNG powered dump trucks will do the same work as the two of their smaller diesel dump trucks at half the fuel cost. With the EPA grant the new trucks will cost the same as the existing diesel trucks.
A US government lab recently switched their research focus from electric vehicles to CNG vehicles. They are looking for ways to tap into the huge natural gas surplus in the US. Natural gas vehicles emit fewer emissions than gasoline powered vehicles. Electric powered vehicles emit no emissions, however, they are charged by the electrical grid powered by fossil fuels.
TravelCenters of America and Shell recently agreed to add 200 natural gas fueling stations along US highways. Shell will construct the stations and TA will operate these stations. These stations will start showing up in 2013.
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