In our introductory blog post on using natural gas as a transportation fuel we stated:
"One of the only cars that consumers can purchase that uses natural gas is the Honda Civic GX. From Kelley Blue Book on the topic of natural gas powered cars:
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls the natural-gas Honda Civic the “world’s cleanest internal-combustion vehicle,” generating 90-percent cleaner emissions than the average gasoline-powered automobile. Natural-gas vehicles can emit 60 to 90 percent fewer smog-producing pollutants and 30 to 40 percent fewer greenhouse-gas emissions. In some big cities, according to NaturalGas.org, emissions can actually be cleaner than the surrounding air. An average dedicated natural-gas vehicle emits about 70 percent less carbon monoxide and 87 percent less NOx (nitrogen oxides) than a gasoline-engine car."
And now for some of the drawbacks:
- Natural Gas is still a fossil fuel and we’ll eventually have the same price problems we have with oil and all non-renewable resources
- One method of obtaining Natural Gas called fracking has come under scrutiny lately for the potentially damaging affect it has on groundwater supplies in the area. Here is a great segment on Fracking from energyNOW!
- The infrastructure really isn’t in place to fuel private vehicles, as most of the fueling infrastructure is used to support government or private fleets. Here is a great map of natural gas fueling locations."
But if you are interested in a natural gas vehicle, the Civic Natural Gas is probably your only bet.
