Installing CNG systems on conventional cars is expensive, due in part to the large and intrusive fuel tanks needed to hold even a most amount of natural gas. But vehicle consultant Carlabs has developed a small bi-fuel system that takes advantage of CNG’s low cost, without adding too much to the car’s sale price.
Carlabs performed bi-fuel conversions on four vehicles to show the flexibility of their system. A Hyundai Sonata, BMW X3, Ford Mustang GT, and GMC Acadia, using tanks that hold the equivalent of four gallons of natural gas. The tanks were fitted into the space usually reserved for the spare tire, and added between 55 and 75 miles of extra range using a fuel that averages around $2 for a gallon-equivalent. This is in addition to the standard gasoline tanks on each car, which were unaltered. The cars can switch seamlessly between gasoline and natural gas.
These systems could make a great “gateway” alternative-fuel vehicle for people who live in areas where CNG stations are still few and far between. If you lived close to a CNG station, you could putz around town on a much-cheaper fuel source, and then for long journeys fill up on regular gasoline, secure that you’ll never be far from refueling. It gives me security than a pure CNG car like the $26,000 Honda Civic Natural Gas, which was briefly offered with a $3,000 gas card to motivate sales.
Best of all, the systems only cost between $2,600 and $2,900 per car which, while not cheap, is about the cost of adding leather seats or other premium options. Most bi-fuel systems have much larger tanks, driving up costs. Vehicles, like the Ram 2500 HD CNG carry a $11,000 premium for their natural gas systems. This lower cost could conceivably be made up in just a couple of years of driving, especially if gas prices go back up to $4 a gallon and you do a lot of city driving.
Are small bi-fuel systems the key to CNG adoption?
Source: Green Car Reports
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