Honda Civic Natural Gas
Automotive manufacturer American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Clean Energy Fuels Corp, natural gas fuel supplier and station operator, will work together with participating Honda dealers in the US to provide an incentive to customers purchasing a new 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle – a debit card pre-loaded with USD 3,000 that can be used at Clean Energy CNG fueling stations around the country to purchase fuel. The moves seeks to capture market advantage accorded by rising gasoline prices and builds on the gaining momentum of Civic Natural Gas sales.
According to Peter Grace, senior vice president of Clean Energy for sales, the fuel card will translate into two to three years of not paying for fuel for the average driver.
In addition to the fuel card savings, 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle customers in California may have the added benefit of single-occupant access to High Occupancy Vehicle “carpool” lanes through January 1, 2015 or access to other clean vehicle incentives offered by some States.
“With gas prices spiking in California, Civic Natural Gas vehicles sales at an all time high, and the public gaining greater awareness of the benefits of using natural gas, we believe this a great time to launch our fuel card promotion with our partner Clean Energy.” said Steve Center, vice president of the American Honda Environmental Business Development Office. “If you’re looking to save money at the pump, spend less time in traffic, and reduce your environmental impact, the 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is a great choice.”
With a combined EPA fuel economy rating of 31 mpg (13.18 km/l) and a fuel cost savings of up to 40 percent compared to a typical gasoline-powered compact car, the Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can significantly reduce the pain at the pump. The Civic Natural Gas Vehicle can also be refueled in a matter of minutes, much like a conventional gasoline-powered car, and should be able to cover over 200 miles on a single tank of fuel (depending on driving conditions and style).
The nation-wide average price of natural gas fuel for vehicles in July was $2.05 per equivalent gasoline gallon, according to the most recent Department of Energy, Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price report on fuel prices. Ninety-eight percent of natural gas consumed in North America is domestically produced.
The 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle, currently the only OEM produced natural-gas powered passenger vehicle in the U.S, posted record sales since going on-sale in October 2011 as a new model, increasing 22 percent versus the same period a year ago, highlighting continued growing consumer interest in practical alternatives to gasoline, and natural gas in particular.
Named the “2012 Green Car of the Year” by Green Car Journal and one of the “greenest vehicles of 2012” by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the redesigned 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle runs on cleaner, abundant and domestically sourced inexpensive natural gas.
The Civic Natural Gas Vehicle is available for purchase at 199 certified Honda CNG dealers in 36 states. It is the only dedicated CNG-powered passenger car available for retail purchase from a major automaker and is manufactured exclusively by Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC in Greensburg, Indiana, using domestic and globally sourced parts.
Consumers interested in learning more about their refueling locations can visit Clean Energy’s web-based station locator at www.cnglngstations.com for a listing of stations in their area.
Customers interested in receiving a $3000 fuel card with the purchase of a new 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle must make their purchase from a participating Honda CNG dealer on or before January 2, 2013; the supply of fuel cards and model year 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicles is limited.
(This article compiled using information from an American Honda co., Inc. press release)
