When gas prices rise, people's thoughts naturally jump to alternative fuel sources.
A Natural gas vehicle or NGV is a vehicle that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) or, less commonly, liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a clean alternative to other automobile fuels.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Natural-gas vehicles offer these benefits:
- The biggest advantage of NGVs is that they reduce environmentally harmful emissions.
- NGVs are safer. The fuel storage tanks on an NGV are thicker and stronger than gasoline or diesel tanks. There has not been an NGV fuel-tank rupture in more than two years in the United States.
- Natural gas costs are lower than gasoline. On average, natural gas costs one-third less than gasoline at the pump.
- Natural gas prices have exhibited significant stability compared to oil prices. Historically, natural gas prices have exhibited significant price stability compared to the prices of petroleum-based fuels. This stability makes it easier to plan accurately for long-term costs.
- NGVs have lower maintenance costs. Because natural gas burns so cleanly, it results in less wear and tear on the engine and extends the time between tune-ups and oil changes.
- One of the biggest complaints about NGVs is that they aren't as roomy as gasoline cars. This is because NGVs have to give up precious cargo and trunk space to accommodate the fuel storage cylinders. Not only that, these cylinders can be expensive to design and build -- a contributing factor to the higher overall costs of a natural-gas vehicle compared to a gasoline-powered car.
- Another drawback is the limited driving range of NGVs, which is typically about half that of a gasoline-powered vehicle. For example, Honda's natural gas Civic, the Civic GX, can go up to 220 miles without refueling. A typical gasoline-powered Civic can go approximately 350 miles without refueling. If a dedicated NGV ran out of fuel on the road, it would have to be towed to the owner's home or to a local natural gas refueling station, which might be harder to find than a "regular" gas station.
Sources:
Wikipedia - Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV)
How Natural-gas Vehicles Work
Related Link:
NGV NETWORK MALAYSIA
Suria Professional Service Centre Sdn Bhd
NGV Locator
Something you may also want to know, the only NGV car explosion case:
Additional Information:
Price per Kilometer comparison
Petrol RM0.22 / km (Before Increase RM1.92)
Petrol RM0.31 / km (After Increase RM2.70 increase 40%)
NGV RM0.06 / km
Saving of RM0.16 /km (Before Increase RM1.92)
Saving of RM0.25 /km (After Increase RM2.70 increase 40%)
that is about 73% saving (Before Increase RM1.92)
that is about 80% saving (After Increase RM2.70 increase 40%)
If I were to drive 60km daily for 30 days per month.
Total distance 60 x 30 = 1800km
Total fuel price consume per month:Petrol RM0.22 x 1800 = RM396 (Before Increase)
Total fuel price consume per month:Petrol RM0.31 x 1800 = RM558 ( After Increase)
Natural Gas(CNG) RM0.06 x 2100 = RM108
Saving per month is RM288 (Before Increase RM1.92)
Saving per month is RM450 (After Increase RM2.70 increase 40%)
Yearly Saving RM288 x 12 = Rm3456
Yearly Saving RM450 x 12 = Rm5400
The above calculation is base on car install NGV in 2006. Now is 2008, let reduce the saving by 10% due to the reason, the get car older and become inefficient in fuel consumption.
Yearly Saving Rm3456 x 0.90 = RM3110
Yearly Saving Rm5400 x 0.90 = RM4860
With the additional rebate of RM625 upon paying road tax for car below 2000cc , your saving per year would be
RM4860 + Rm625 = RM5485 per year
Per Month Saving RM5485/12 = RM457
Installation Price:
For Carburetor Car around RM2900 to RM3200
For Fuel Injection Car around Rm5500 to RM6500
Related Article:
Tips on filling your vehicles
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