CNG Vehicle Conversion

[mmonroe]

Those statements are true, I read the entire page, but this is a look at the power of an explosion from a CNG car... it's absolutely crazy.

[BailJumper]

KFOR did a piece at 6pm on how half the ice cream truck fleet in the metro is CNG.

Said the down side was there are only 3 CNG stations in the metro and the vehicle tanks only hold 6-gallons. Another issue is that very few mechanics know how to work on CNG vehicles.

Hmmm, might want to wait a couple of years for my conversion.

[tim22757]

The wife and I have been considering CNG conversion on at least one of our vehicles because we just refuse to give up our SUV's.

The problem is we keep getting conflicting info.

KOCO did a story where they claim CNG runs $.90 a gallon and a conversion runs $9,000.

Just this morning on FlashPoint, the dufus of a commissioner Jeff Cloud (can't stand him) said it is running $2 a gallon and a conversion runs $2,000.

Anyone have any idea where I can...
1. Find a map of CNG stations available to the public in/around OKC (make sure we can fill up somewhat conveniently and get a price).
2. Find a place that does conversions (to get prices before buying a SUV to convert).
3. Does Oklahoma allow for inhome vehicle fillups if your home has gas already.
4. If yes to #3, anyone know of a place that sells/installs a home station?

KOCO also reported you can get the conversion for 'almost free' because of federal and state tax credits - confirm?


I'm looking at getting a newer used Escape or similar to convert. If it goes well I'll sell one of our SUV's we already drive. If it goes really well, I'll convert another.

actually i am looking at getting into the business of installing the conversions and if that happens the cost will be between $3500.00 and $4500.00 for the conversion depending on the vehicle. cng stations are being added at a fairly fast pace, in OKC the OnCues have the pumps and i believe it sells for from 1.29 a gallon at the ONG STATIONS TO 1.89 at the OnCue stations and yes you can buy a fueling station for your home and the one i have looked at start from 1500.00 to 3500.00.

[ou48A]

Clean Energy Unveils Backbone Network for America’s Natural Gas Highway

http://finance.sfgate.com/hearst.sfg...?GUID=20375563

Posted on January 12, 2012 at 06:00 AM EST.

The route plan for the first phase of 150 new LNG fueling stations for America’s Natural Gas Highway (ANGH) was unveiled today by Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE), the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America. The company has identified 98 locations and anticipates having 70 stations open by the end of 2012 in 33 states.

Many of the fueling stations will be co-located at Pilot-Flying J Travel Centers already serving goods movement trucking through an exclusive agreement with Pilot to build, own and operate natural gas fueling facilities at agreed-upon travel centers. Pilot-Flying J is the nation's largest truck-stop operator with more than 550 retail properties in 47 states.

Major highway segments planned for early opening include, among others, those linking San Diego-Los Angeles-Riverside-Las Vegas; the Texas Triangle (Houston-San Antonio-Dallas/Ft. Worth); Los Angeles-Dallas; Houston-Chicago; Chicago-Atlanta; and a network of stations along major highways in the mid-west region (IL, IN, OH, MO, KY, TN, KS, OK, AL) to serve the heavy trucking traffic in the area.

Scheduled for completion during 2012 and 2013, the 150 first-phase stations coincide with the expected arrival of new natural gas truck engines well suited for heavy-duty, over-the-road trucking. Engine manufacturers and original equipment truck manufacturers such as Cummins-Westport, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Navistar, Freightliner and Caterpillar are expected to have Class-8 trucks available in engine sizes allowing for varied road and driving requirements.

“We are moving quickly to build this important network in order to support the new trucks,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy’s President and CEO. “Already, Clean Energy has engaged over 100 shippers, private fleets and for-hire carriers that have shared their operations to qualify the economic opportunity of operating natural gas trucks, which has helped us, in turn, plan the first phase of the natural gas fueling highway.”

Littlefair noted that the ANGH stations are in addition to the station building planned for the company’s traditional markets in transit, refuse, airport/taxi/shuttle and local/regional trucking, which activity accounted for 63 station projects in 2011.

In July 2011, in a major alliance supporting the transition of trucking from diesel to natural gas fuel, Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK), the nation’s second largest natural gas producer, committed an investment of $150 million in Clean Energy to help fund the development of America’s Natural Gas Highway. In September 2011, a group of international investors committed an additional $150 million, and in December 2011, another $150 million was invested, bringing the total investment in Clean Energy in 2011 for fueling station infrastructure development and other capital projects to $450 million.

Currently priced up to $1.50 per gallon lower than diesel or gasoline (depending upon local markets), the use of natural gas fuel reduces costs significantly for vehicle and fleet owners, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions approximately 23% in medium to heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, natural gas is a secure North American energy source with 98% of the natural gas consumed produced in the U.S. and Canada.

Clean Energy (Nasdaq: CLNE) is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market. It has operations in CNG and LNG vehicle fueling, construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology.

[Prunepicker]

I tried to do this with my truck but conversion isn't available for it.

[rjfreitas]

At the bottom of this article there is a list of companies that sell CNG conversion kits:
CNG Vehicle Conversion Kits

Also, you can install a home pump in Oklahoma City. A company called Ecofriendly sells them starting at around $5000. You will have some initial up front costs converting your vehicles, but the gas savings will pay for that over the years.

Good luck!