ESC Endorsement of Natural Gas Vehicles
February 24, 2009

Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) should continue to have a significant role in solving our nation's energy problems. To this extent, the Energy Solutions Center (ESC) endorses continued development and usage of NGVs based, in large part, on the following:

1)  Energy Security: There is an abundant supply of natural gas in North America and the world.  Supplies in the USA and Canada are projected to last 100 years or more.

2)   Economic Benefits: Because natural gas is a domestic fuel, expenditures towards CNG and LNG remain in North America. When an energy crisis from our dependency on foreign oil occurs, it is not uncommon for a recession to follow – not unlike our current dilemma.

3)   Clean Air: Because natural gas engines produce fewer harmful emissions than those fueled by gasoline, diesel or LPG; NGVs emit low amounts of NOx, SOx, CO, CO2, and particulate matter. Also, because methane is a “non-reactive” hydrocarbon, it does not form smog.  As an example, the Honda Civic GX, which runs exclusively on CNG, is rated as a Partial Zero Emission Vehicle because it is one of the cleanest internal combustion vehicles in the world.

4)   Renewable Fuel: Natural gas can be a renewable fuel as a biogas.

6)  Low Environmental Risks: In the event of an accident, natural gas dissipates into the atmosphere rather than spilling on to the ground - a major benefit for water supplies and wildlife.

7)   Available Technology: NGV technology is well understood. It is not a technology under development with an uncertain availability.

ESC recognizes the mission of NGV-America (www.ngvc.org) to be a “national voice for the NGV industry and catalyst for collective action, and to provide services and information to members to improve their effectiveness and profitability”. Therefore, ESC encourages referrals to NGV-America’s website for detailed technical and policy guidance.