The National Conference of Weights and Measures (NCWM) announced that a special steering committee is recommending that compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG) natural gas be sold in gasoline and diesel gallon equivalents. The recommendation will be voted on this July at the 99th NCWM Annual Meeting in Detroit.
The recommendation sets the stage for the potential approval of the diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) standard, which under the proposal is defined as 6.380 pounds (2.894 kg) of CNG and 6.060 pounds (2.75 kg) of LNG. The adoption of the DGE standard would provide certainty for fuel retailers and regulators as CNG and LNG would be measured in consistent units of mass. Importantly, it would allow natural gas to be displayed in units that provide customers and the broader public the ability to easily compare fuel costs and understand the value proposition of natural gas versus diesel fuel.
The gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) standard has served the natural gas vehicle industry and the public well since its adoption by NCWM in 1994. For 20 years, the GGE standard has provided fuel retailers and customers a reliable unit with which to do business. As the number of LNG stations and CNG station serving the trucking industry grows, it is increasingly important that there be a national standard that provides guidance on the way to measure and dispense natural gas in DGEs.
“Establishing a diesel gallon equivalent standard is an important issue that would have a significant impact on our industry,” said NGVAmerica president Richard Kolodziej. “We appreciate the attention the NCWM has given to the potential adoption of the DGE standard and commend the special steering committee for making it a voting issue at the Annual Meeting this summer.”
NGVAmerica is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica represents more than 200 companies, environmental groups, and government organizations interested in the promotion and use of natural gas and biomethane as transportation fuels.
