Dedicated Natural Gas Automobiles
Dedicated natural gas automobiles are a type of vehicle which only runs on natural gas. According to energy.gov, automobiles of this type generally have preferable performance and produce fewer emissions than vehicles designed to use another type of fuel in addition to natural gas. It also indicates that these vehicles generate less emissions than gasoline or diesel automobiles, they tend to require less maintenance, and most natural gas consumed in the United States is produced in North America.
Dedicated natural gas vehicles are more common than many people would expect. It is possible to purchase them both new and used in a variety of types, including cars, trucks, and large vehicles of various kinds. The Department of Energy indicates that more than 150,000 natural gas powered automobiles are in use in the United States, including one-fifth of newly manufactured transit buses. According to fueleconomy.gov, the following passenger vehicles have been manufactured in dedicated N.G.-powered versions: 1998/2000-05/2007 Honda Civic, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, 2005 GMC Sierra, 2000-04 Ford F150, 2000-2001 Toyota Camry, and 1997/1999-04 Ford Crown Victoria. It is also possible to convert other automobiles to run on this type of fuel.
Although dedicated natural gas vehicles are somewhat more difficult to locate and purchase than gasoline or diesel models, a fairly good variety of cars and trucks of this type have been manufactured in the past ten years. Using this type of vehicle may provide savings on maintenance or fuel costs, helps protect the environment, and enhances national self-reliance.