Compressed natural gas (CNG), is a highly desirable fuel for a wide variety of motorized vehicles that are used in a number of specialized applications. Of all the fossil fuels, CNG is by far the cleanest burning, and it offers the additional advantage of having a consistently lower cost than gasoline; two factors that make the fuel attractive to managers of corporate and government fleets.
There are a number of transportation scenarios that require fleet owners to comply with strict emissions control standards, such as those imposed on shuttle buses and taxis used by rental car companies at certain airports. Additionally, many state and federal government agencies impose similar clean air requirements on their fleet vehicles, and CNG is the obvious fuel choice where low emissions, at any price, is a must. The fact that compressed natural gas costs less than gasoline is a bonus, and as a result, more corporate and government CNG fueling stations are being built nationwide every day.
Due to the very limited availability of public outlets for CNG, on-site fueling stations are required for the majority of corporate and government fleet operations today. An on-site CNG fueling station is the most cost-effective and convenient solution for most fleet energy needs, and they are comprised of the following components:
In addition to CNG’s low emissions and cost benefits, there is the added attraction of using a fuel that is produced within the United States. With the exception of small amounts of CNG imported from Canada, this highly efficient fuel is produced from drilled wells and open mines located in America’s Gulf state and Rocky Mountain regions. This domestic supply frees CNG from the many uncertainties associated with the importation of crude oil from the Middle East.
While corporate and government fleets constitute the majority of CNG powered vehicle utilizations today, the popularity of the fuel can only increase. Clean air requirements will only become more stringent, and the upward spiraling cost of other fossil fuels has begun to make their use prohibitive for fleet owners and individuals alike. Compressed natural gas can and will be an integral component to a worldwide effort to find new and innovative ways to better manage the planet’s ever growing energy needs. Therefore, CNG is the obvious choice for anyone who seeks tomorrow’s energy solutions today.