2008 Cyber Guide to Natural Gas Vehicles, NGVs, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Autogas, Engines, Infrastructure (CD-ROM)

This unique electronic book compilation on CD-ROM has a collection of the best federal documents and resources on natural gas vehicles (NGVs), powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and autogas. There is information on vehicle designs, infrastructure, engines, research into hydrogen-natural gas blends (HCNG), and much more. Natural gas vehicles can reduce petroleum consumption and provide a transition to the hydrogen economy. Gaseous fuel vehicles can also reduce emissions of regulated pollutants compared with conventional vehicles fueled with gasoline and diesel. There is material from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Brookhaven National Laboratory, and more. The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Transportation Technologies/ Heavy Vehicles (OHVT) is promoting the use of domestically produced, natural gas as an alternative fuel for the transportation sector. The goal of its Natural Gas Vehicle Systems Program is to eliminate the technical and cost barriers associated with displacing imported petroleum fuels. Under contract to DOE, Brookhaven National Laboratory manages this program which supports research and development of technologies that reduce manufacturing costs, reduce emissions, and improve vehicle performance and consumer acceptance of natural gas-fueled vehicles. The types of projects that are currently funded include: (1) liquefied natural gas production from unconventional sources, (2) onboard, natural gas storage systems (adsorbent, compressed, and liquefied), (3) natural gas delivery systems for both onboard vehicle and refueling station, and (4) regional and enduse strategies. To meet its objective the program's strategy is to integrate the individual technologies being developed. A major portion of the Natural Gas Vehicle Systems Program focuses on developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a fuel for heavy-duty vehicles. These heavy-duty vehicles include Class 7 & 8 trucks, and transit buses. LNG is a feasible choice for those vehicles with fuel use that exceed 10,000 gallons per year and with a driving range of more than 300 miles. Natural gas engines produce low emissions and its fuel costs are lower compared to other alternative fuels. By utilizing more of its own large natural gas reserves the U.S. can reduce its dependence on foreign energy supplies. The key to making LNG more competitive in the market with petroleum based fuels is by improving the energy efficiency and reducing the costs of LNG technologies. This can be done through systems integration. The table below lists the organizations that are under contract to DOE. Their technologies may be categorized in the areas of production, fuel delivery systems, storage, and end-use. Natural gas vehicles are helping reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil, protect public health and the environment, and pave the way to the hydrogen vehicles of the future. There is information about government and industry research and development related to compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines and vehicles. In addition to CNG and LNG engines and vehicles, work is underway on engines and vehicles that operate on hydrogen-natural gas blends (HCNG) just one way natural gas vehicle R&D is aiding the transition to hydrogen vehicles. You'll also learn about R&D on the infrastructure technologies needed to make widespread use of natural gas vehicles and hydrogen vehicles a reality.