Natural gas vehicles (NGVs, CNG)

[TEG]

...You might as well just use gasoline...

Which is what they are doing for the most part, except that as gasoline gets more expensive, and CNG/LPG becomes cheaper (as it has become lately) one starts to think in terms of economics.
Plus, there is the "domestic fuel" vs "imported fuel" argument.

[TEG]

Also, long ago I had converted one of my old/long-since-gone cars to run on LPG. Part of the reasons was improved engine longevity. Cleaner burning without the carbon deposits like you get from gasoline.
Typically I would refill it at places that refuel barbeque tanks. Many gas stations have LPG fill-up in back. Many RVs need LPG for their stoves and water heaters, so there are places to find it...

I am still 100% for 100% BEV, but for those stuck using a range extender, I think it would be good to offer CNG/LPG choices, not just gasoline.

[doug]

LPG and CNG, practically speaking, are really different beasts. You can fill CNG at home, but it's super slow and you're better off just plugging in. LPG is available at many places and since is stores basically as a liquid (along is some moderate pressure gas), it fills faster and the tanks are much more manageable.

So yeah, an LPG PHEV could be a pretty good idea. But that's probably a topic for a different thread.

[doug]

Why We Aren't Driving Natural Gas Powered Cars

[doug]

Ask An Engineer: Natural Gas For Dummies | The Truth About Cars

[VolkerP]

In the long term, even NG as a fossile fuel must be replaced with something else. Audi talks about synthetic NG. Since CNG/LPG still poses new requirements on storage inside the vehicle and on filling stations, what synthetic hydrocarbon would be the ideal replacement for diesel to use e.g. in long haul trucking?

[jerry33]

In the long term, even NG as a fossile fuel must be replaced with something else.

+1 NG seems to me to be just switching from heroin to meth.

[William13]

My dad had two LPG cars in the 1970's. They were duel fuel gasoline and LPG. He has several LPG trucks to this day as he sell propane.

The benefit with LPG is fast refuel time and large numbers of available refill places currently. It can go duel fuel also. The natural gas requires higher pressure, larger tank size, or specialized tank material.

There are many benefits to the LPG cars.

[VolkerP]

In Germany, LPG cars are banned from underground parking areas. Reason being, gas leaking from LPG tank forms an invisible, highly flammable puddle on the floor.

So, we come from H2 (forget it), CH4 (synthetic NG), to C3H8 (Propane). Any candidates for liquid hydrocarbons, e.g. Methanol or Butanol? Raw material sources and synthesis process?

[doug]

What's interesting here is the explosion is just from the release of pressure from the compressed gas and not from combustion. Those guys are lucky the gas didn't ignite.

via CNG tank explodes while owner fills up