Honda Civic GX (Compressed Natural Gas) the best of both worlds.

[steppinthrax]

I was recently looking at the EPA fuel ratings sites to see exactly what my MPG rating on my car is and noticed a link on the side indicating cars that require no gas. To my surprise Honda makes a Civic that uses compressed natural gas. The car?s hasn?t been out for that long but they were doing beta testing in CA and it?s been offered to the consumer market available in NY and CA. The interesting thing is that CNG engines have abilities that overlap and All electric plug in hybrid and a gas-electric hybrid. It also has benefits to all sides of the spectrum. In my opinion the CNG seems real promising.

1. The combustion of CNG is quite clean. From the EPA website it?s the cleanest vehicle.
2. The average fuel cost per year is around 800. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/byfuel/CNG2007.shtml
3. Since the engine burns pretty clean you change the oil every 10K and since there is no carbon build-up the engine can last significantly longer. They report an excess of 500K.
4. If you home has natural gas you can refill the car at home. You can get a charging station that will compress the natural gas to form liquid to be refilled in your car.

 

[zoiks]

I think the GX has been around for like 7 years.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: zoiks
I think the GX has been around for like 7 years.

Why hasen't this CNG technology caught on as much as the plug-in hybrids and other alternative technologies. I know the CNG is used for fork-lifts and city buses.

 

[Ryan]

Originally posted by: steppinthrax

Originally posted by: zoiks
I think the GX has been around for like 7 years.

Why hasen't this CNG technology caught on as much as the plug-in hybrids and other alternative technologies. I know the CNG is used for fork-lifts and city buses.

Refueling stations for natural gas are not a numerous as those for regular gasoline - distribution is the biggest hurdle for and alternative fuel vehicle. Also, I guarantee there are more of these on the road than hybrids that have been actively retrofitted to accept external power sources (plug ins just get more publicity, these NG civics are sold mostly to fleets).

 

[CrackRabbit]

CNG cars have been around for quite a while.
I know that some of the Texas DOT work fleet uses CNG and they were mostly Fords.

 

[Pepsi90919]

i saw some guy refuelling his ford tempo that was converted. you fuel it through the hood. the conversion costs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ but the gas mileage is good.

 

[lokiju]

When I was working on a security system on a port down in FL all the pickup trucks there used Natural Gas.

They're used in a lot of fleet trucks & cars.

 

[waggy]

NG is great. just wish there was more refueling stations.

 

[Kelvrick]

There are a lot of natural gas buses too.