Sales of Natural Gas Vehicles to Top 35 Million in Next 10 Years
A recent report just issued indicates that the sale of natural gas vehicles through 2025 will exceed 35 million units.
The hurdle, of course, is a sufficient number of NG refueling stations. In addition, the current low price of gas and diesel may slow the trend.
NG is an attractive alternative to diesel for medium and heavy duty vehicles in meeting regulatory standards and an appealing option for reducing operating costs and carbon emissions in many automotive applications, noted Navigtant, which conducted the study.
However, NG can only be used where refueling infrastructure is widely available, and the current density of refueling options are tied mostly to government incentive programs.
“For NG to reach its full potential as a transport fuel, easy access to refueling stations and a large population of NGVs are required,” says Sam Abuelsamid, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “Without a critical mass of vehicles in need of NG fuel, station operators are unwilling to invest in equipment—and without easy access to stations, retail customers won’t commit to purchasing NGVs.”
The majority of NG vehicles use compressed NG (CNG) as opposed to the liquid form of the fuel, according to the report. Despite its lower energy density compared to liquid NG (LNG), CNG is generally considered the superior option for NGVs that are operating within a limited range where extended driving range is not required; LNG also requires extra processing procedures, driving up the overall price of the fuel.
Category: CNG
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