While recent media and consumer attention has focused on electric and biodiesel-fueled vehicles, there is an equally strong – if not stronger – proven candidate whose potential has barely been tapped: NGVs. (Report Overview)
The Northwest Gas Association, a trade organization of the Pacific Northwest natural gas industry, has released “Natural Gas Vehicles: Today’s Transportation Solution” — a whitepaper outlining the opportunities natural gas vehicles (NGVs) provide for energy efficient, clean, safe and reliable transportation. 50 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributable to transportation in the Pacific Northwest region.
Along with providing a primer on NGV operations the whitepaper dedicates sections to regional success stories and opportunities to expand NGV adoption, making it an excellent resource for fleet managers, policymakers and transportation enthusiasts.
NGVs are benefiting from natural gas’ low prices and domestic abundance, now estimated at over 100 years worth of supply sourced directly from North America. At current prices the cost of natural gas averages 30 percent less than gasoline or diesel making NGVs an attractive alternative to companies seeking to reduce vehicle fleet costs.
Environmentally, the use of natural gas for transportation reduces GHG emissions up to 30 percent compared with conventional transportation fuels. Across most of the world, NGVs’ overall carbon footprint is also smaller than that of electric vehicles when factoring in emissions from coal-generated electricity.
A number of NGV projects are already active or being implemented. NWGA member companies currently deploy 162 vehicles fueled by compressed natural gas, a number that continues to grow. Member Williams Northwest Pipeline intends to convert all of their 1,500 fleet vehicles over the next five to seven years. Other regional NGV adopters include Portland and Sea-Tac Airports, Waste Management, Allied Waste and a number of local and regional transit authorities.
The report can be downloaded from the NWGA website.
(This article compiled using information from an NGWA press release)
