November 2010
Natural Gas Vehicles - What a Way to Go

GeorgeYoung wanted transportation but did not want to rely on foreign oil.

"I began by looking at electric cars like the Volt, but you can only go 40 miles on a single charge, "said Young of Georgia Green Fuel in Athens. "After educating myself, I learned that natural gas is the most efficient, nonpolluting alternative fuel."

Young is not alone in his interest of alternative fuel-powered vehicles.Currently there are more than seven million natural gas vehicles in use worldwide, with approximately 100,000 operating on U.S. roads. Energy security, concern for the environment and economics are driving the market for alternative fuels and technologies.

Thinking about purchasing a natural gas vehicle? Here are some reasons why a compressed natural gas vehicle is better than what you are currently driving:

• They are quieter.
• There are some great tax incentives for alternative fuel automobiles.
• You are being kind to the environment.
• It's cheaper.
• The engine wear and tear is 75 percent less than gasoline vehicles.
• You only have to change the oil every 10,000 miles.
• If you purchase a Vehicle Refueling Appliance (VRA), you can refuel in your own driveway.







Young knows these advantages firsthand. He owns two Honda Civic GXs, which run totally off compressed natural gas (CNG). The trunk houses an eight-gallon tank that allows the car to travel 230 miles. The GXs start at $25,500, which is only about $5,000 more than a comparable gasoline powered car.




Not only did Young's search lead him to own compressed natural gas cars, he also sells appliances to refuel them. Vehicle refueling appliances (VRAs) provide an economical and convenient way to refuel natural gas vehicles. There are two types of VRAs with several models available. Consumers can choose from time fill or fast fill VRAs.




A lower investment of approximately $5,000 buys a time fill device that dispenses CNG slowly and is best for vehicles that sit idle overnight or for extended periods.The time fill VRAs dispense compressed natural gas at a rate of approximately a gallon an hour.




The fast fill option will cost about $10,000 and is similar to the time required at a regular gas station. If you need more capacity, you can purchase a unit with combo fill capabilities that uses both options.




Including the equipment, Young estimates he spends $1.60 a gallon on compressed natural gas to run his family's vehicles. That's a deal considering the average gas price in Georgia is more than $2.50. Even though the outlay of money is significant in the beginning, the savings will continue over the life of theVRA.




Natural gas is abundant, available, the cleanest of all alternative fuels and produced right here in North America, which reduces our dependency on foreign oil. Natural gas vehicles - what a way to go.




For more information, call George Young at 770-202-9075 or Leon Daniel at 770-294-7236 or visit GeorgiaGreenFuel.com.






One of two public compressed natural gas fueling stations in the state is located less than a mile from the entrance to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.


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