| The race is on to find suitable replacement | | | | methane. The global supply is quite |
| fuels for the planet's rapidly dwindling | | | | substantial at this point, and the U.S. even |
| petroleum reserves. One of the easiest and | | | | produces quite a bit of it domestically. It |
| most cost effective alternatives is | | | | must first be processed, removing impurities |
| compressed natural gas which is produced | | | | and other fuels like propane that can be used |
| domestically, and is far less of a pollutant | | | | to fulfill other fuel needs. |
| than regular gasoline. It can be used in your | | | | |
| average, every day combustion engine and it | | | | In order for it to be useful, the gas has to |
| is the least expensive of all the other | | | | be pressurized over 200 times the normal |
| alternative fuels out there, making it worthy | | | | atmospheric pressure. This is done by storing |
| of examination. Some vehicles, for example | | | | it in large, bulky tanks which are usually |
| certain airport shuttles, already use this | | | | affixed to the bottom of the vehicle, or |
| kind of fuel, and have for many years. | | | | inside the trunk. In order to actually use |
| Presently there are approximately 150,000 | | | | natural gas in your car, you'll have to |
| vehicles on American roads that use CNG, and | | | | modify your vehicle, requiring an initial |
| over 7 million vehicles worldwide. | | | | investment to make it a viable option. Buying |
| | | | a new CNG car will run you several thousand |
| The world's cleanest running internal | | | | dollars more than a similar car that runs |
| combustion vehicle, the Honda Civic GX, runs | | | | only on regular petrol. And then there is the |
| on compressed natural gas. This amazing car | | | | issue of trying to find CNG stations in your |
| can drive from coast to coast and produce | | | | area. |
| less non-methane hydrocarbons than what is | | | | |
| contained in a single teaspoon of regular | | | | The biggest problem is that like oil, natural |
| gasoline. Another benefit of compressed | | | | gas is a non-renewable resource and is not a |
| natural gas is that in the even there is a | | | | viable permanent solution for the planet's |
| spill, it quickly dissipates in to the air, | | | | fuel needs. Another concern is that a great |
| rather than spilling all over the ground or | | | | deal of natural gas produced in our country |
| leaking in to the water. | | | | is already spoken for and used by consumers |
| | | | for things other than automobiles. In order |
| Natural gas is found underground with | | | | to fulfill the U.S. fuel requirements, we |
| petroleum and is also retrieved through | | | | will still have to rely primarily on foreign |
| drilling. The majority of it is comprised of | | | | production. |