Search

Recent News

• Pedersen named to Hancock Humane Society Board
• United Way of Hancock County names Pedersen to Head Annual Campaign’s Corporate Division
• Pedersen Named to Findlay Hancock County Alliance and Economic Development Boards
• Airport site chosen for CNG fueling station
• Kirk Energy Receives Certification for First Responder Training in CNG Vehicles

Kirk Energy News

CNG FAQs

What is CNG?

CNG, which stands for “Compressed Natural Gas,” is a federally approved alternative fuel for vehicles.  The natural gas is often the same as what you receive off the pipeline for your home only pressurized (i.e., “compressed”) to meet the requirements needed to operate as an effective vehicle fuel.  Worldwide there are over 10 million vehicles operating on CNG.

Is it safe?

Yes.  Numerous studies have been conducted regarding the safety of CNG.  Findings conclude that it is as safe if not safer than conventional fuels due in large part to its properties. For example, being lighter than air, CNG dissipates quickly and is also non-toxic.  What is more, CNG has roughly double the ignition point and a narrower range of flammability than gasoline and diesel, which makes it far less susceptible to accidental ignition.  CNG fuel tanks are also much stronger than gasoline fuel tanks and subjected to federally required “severe abuse” tests, such as heat and pressure extremes, gunfire, collisions, and fires.

What are the benefits?

There are multiple advantages to be realized by switching your fleet to CNG. For one, CNG is domestic (over 98% of the gas used in the United States comes from North America) and therefore not vulnerable to events overseas. For another, it is clean and, therefore better for the environment.  Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, it is cheap!  Thanks to our abundant supply of natural gas, CNG is presently running in excess of $1.00/ gallon less than gasoline and diesel.  Data regarding CNG pricing (as well as that of other alternative fuels) is published quarterly by the Alternative Fuels Data Center and can be accessed at:

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/price_report.html

Where can I get a CNG vehicle?

CNG vehicles are offered through some conventional car dealerships, but more commonly you will need to coordinate with a vehicle up-fitter to arrange for installation of the certified CNG conversion systems.  For gasoline powered vehicles, installation of the conversion system is quite simple usually takes under forty eight hours.  Diesel systems are more complex as either a new, spark-ignited engine or dual fuel system needs to be installed.  A list of companies offering certified conversion systems and engines can be obtained through the Natural Gas Vehicles for America website:

http://www.ngvc.org/pdfs/marketplace/MP.Analyses.NGVs-a.pdf

How much is this going to cost me?

Vehicles equipped to run on CNG do at present cost a bit more than conventional gasoline and diesel models.  The overall cost of the conversion depends on a variety of factors such as the overall size of the vehicle as well as the desired tank size.  Generally speaking, the cost ranges from $6,500 for light duty vehicles and $50,000+ for heavy duty models.  In most cases, the increased cost can be recouped over the life of the vehicle through tax credits and fuel cost savings.  There are also a variety of grant programs that can help cover the incremental cost of the vehicles.

Where can I fill my CNG vehicles?

There is estimated to be approximately 1,500 CNG filling stations presently located throughout the United States.  While this presents some obvious challenges, new stations continue to come online as demand for CNG is spurring investment in CNG infrastructure.  Indeed, given the higher fuel prices, many larger fleets are constructing their own stations in order to get access to CNG.  Home filling units can also be purchased for residential application.  Retail station locations can be found by using the station locator feature on our home page.

How do I know if CNG makes sense for me?

Deciding whether to transition your fleet requires careful analysis.  As a preliminary matter, you need to identify where you will get access to the fuel (e.g., retail location or privately owned station) and whether any of these options are cost effective for your fleet.  Next, you will need to conduct a fleet audit to identify which vehicles make the best candidates for transition to CNG.  Finally, you will need to identify what financial incentives (grants, loans, etc.) are available and whether it makes sense to pursue any of these options.  Please do not hesitate to contact Kirk Energy should you need any additional assistance or information about this process.