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Natural gas the clean, cheap option for cars

Wyoming News -- CHEYENNE -- Imagine a vehicle that emits 30 percent less emissions and costs a third less at the pump.

The technology is available. Natural gas already heats about 60 million U.S. homes. More than 150,000 natural-gas-powered vehicles already traverse the nation's roadways.

The average fueling station can't accommodate a natural-gas vehicle, but that could change if more consumers demand cleaner alternatives, said Randy Teeuwen, community relations advisor for EnCana Oil and Gas.


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Submitted Jul 02, 2009 By: GM
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Author Topic: Natural gas the clean, cheap option for cars Topic is locked Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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CISA
Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:17:50 PM

Nat gas is a solution for fleet vehicles. The US has, even if demand were to double tomorrow, at least 50 yrs of proven reserves. Horizontal drilling makes tapping marginal areas profitable.

Re: CAP & TRADE-- WRITE, don't email, your two Senators regardless of party ASAP telling them to oppose Cap & Trade in ANY form.
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papou
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:15:12 PM

who said natural gas is cheap I heat wit it its high !
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pecos
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:13:52 PM

The price won't stay down if that is what we use.
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rxman1
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:13:29 PM

When Cap and Trade passes we will all be paying more. That is if we still have jobs.
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FlyNFool
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:11:19 PM

What will the cost be when cap trade is forced down our throats.
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Dr Gas
All-Star Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:11:11 PM

This is better than - gas / hybrids / ethanol / battery only powered.

The infrastructure is there. Most of us heat our houses with natural gas. It a small matter to get filling stations to dispense this.
It's cleaner - for the environmentists, it burns in ICE - no need to invent new parts, just a small modification, and the engines that burn CNG last way longer.
That last part might not sound good wight now. But I'm all for CNG cars and the sooner the better. Go Pickens!
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jorja13
All-Star Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 3:03:57 PM

If natural gas is such a clean fuel, then why are we paying carbon tax on the natural gas we use to heat our house. I also don't believe it will stay cheap if a lot of people start to use it to fuel cars. Last year when gasoline spiked, so did the natural gas we used for heating, and just like gasoline, it hasn't come down nearly as fast or a far as it should have.
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Focus2
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:48:50 PM

We have lots of natural gas. Wasn't this the Pickens plan? Right now Congress is influenced by Ethanol to help out the farmer with his corn prices. With no one interested in flooding their desk with letters, they are no smarter than GM and are sticking with ethanol and importing oil from OPEC.
The trend for several years to come seen by big oil is better gas mileage efforts and staying with gasoline and the combustion engine. Putting ethanol in your tank is not going to get us better gas mileage and with little savings to crow about.
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RLH68
Champion Author Orlando

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:45:15 PM

Hydrogen emits 0 percent emissions. Beat that!
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Cuzilla
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:37:20 PM

Natural gas alternatives have been around a while but people have, so far, have not taken the bait!
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kookiwoogi
Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:36:26 PM

Gas stations will have to change fast if this go over.
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EOCSSEABEE
All-Star Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:26:33 PM

150,000 cars, they make it sound like that is a lot. Detroit has a population of 1,000,000. This means that not even a major city can boast it is doing something on the use against oil.

Article is well written until you put in into context.
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macbeth2012
Champion Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:25:03 PM

Natural gas prices will spike through the roof, making running your car and heating your house cost prohibitive.
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moody4u
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:23:00 PM

We should use METHANE !!!!
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fizbos
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:20:41 PM

Another idea that is far from mass production.
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v240
All-Star Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:18:55 PM

Can a gasoline engine be modified, or does it have to be replaced ?
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MG_Sputnik
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:18:23 PM

Don't see it happening any time soon.
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lgwhitlock
Champion Author Chico

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:16:16 PM

While it may be an interesting alternative; consider that we could drive up natural gas prices as we start to use more. To me it seems a questionable long term alternative...
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PathfinderSC
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:15:34 PM

This would be good , But our Congress is not going to like this.
They in the bed with OPEC.
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Bubba44612
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:13:23 PM

That is great but where can you fill up when you go across country on vacation?
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Dancin
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:12:58 PM

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST WAY TO GO.
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krell58
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:11:33 PM

Just open the Bakken oil fields.
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roadkillGA
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:09:16 PM

Complain about ethanol but look at natural gas and the ENERGY BILL that will strap us!
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georgeo
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:08:21 PM

One more note on electricity as a power source. We do not have to depend on OPEC or any foreign country to fill our power needs. This is our big problem now, we are sending money out of our country and into some petty little dictators pocket. The other problem is that if you want to get to work in the morning you need transportation. If gas prices are too high, you may not be able to go to work.
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Tux_Rules
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:06:38 PM

And the price heat your home/office will increase, significantly.
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georgeo
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:04:25 PM

Electricity sounds better. You can produce electricity by:
Natural gas fired steam turbines
Oil fired steam turbines
Coal fired steam turbines
Nuclear energy fired steam turbines
Hydroelectric
Geothermal powered
Wind mills
Solar cells
Solar thermal fired steam turbines
Fuel cells
Wave powered generators
and some other methods.
Electricity goes to every house, business and parking lot. The distribution method is in place. Service stations only have to get set to either charge batteries or replace them with a modular battery. Why burn a fuel in single vehicles when it more efficient to use the fuels to create electricity on a mass scale.
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Lavinia
Rookie Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:04:04 PM

This is one piece of the puzzel. I can see a future when natural gas plays a bigger part in the car fuel market than it does now. I also see a big future for electric-hybrid vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, compressed air vehicles and electric vehicles. We may see the biggest future though for gasoline powered vehicles that get much better mileage.
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Skip928
Champion Author Arizona

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:02:58 PM

Regardless of the emissions being less, it's a good idea but not yet viable for use. I'm not going green just because some nit thinks I should live like him!
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repeater1
Champion Author Kansas

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:01:30 PM

Need to have a lot more stations than we currently have in order to make this work. Wonder how far you could get on a tank of natural gas?
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Sammy63
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 2:01:26 PM

they have not and will never build and and infrastructure ... next
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mckellyb
Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:59:00 PM

Nat gas. Great!

Um, little infrastructure, and in order to have a trunk capable of carrying more than 2 grocery bags, we'll all have to drive pickups.
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NoSoup4U
All-Star Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:57:48 PM

Natural gas is a limited resource just like oil. All we'd do is trade high oil prices for high gas prices. The downside: if oil is expensive, people can't afford to drive as much. If natural gas is expensive, many can't afford to heat their homes in the winter. Seems like a bad idea to me.
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PAofFA
All-Star Author Trenton

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:54:16 PM

If natural gas is so plentiful, why is the price rising? Water is the way to go - oxygen+hydrogen+spark = explosion. Byproduct? Water,
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dano50
Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:54:15 PM

Why hasn't this been considered more seriously before now?
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johnrb
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:43:24 PM

As methane is now considered a global warming gas after CO2, and the exhaust from a CNG vehicle is methane hydrocarbons this will not be considered a clean fuel once the NMHC standard goes away!
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Bagtag
All-Star Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:39:46 PM

Hey Nitehawk, sick that Pitbull, Guvnor Palin on it!
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Wesk8
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:39:29 PM

A decent first step. But it still relies on a central producer which is easily monopolized. We'll be right back where we started other than cleaner air, which in itself is a good reason to take this first step.

We can't predict the future, so let's invent it!
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coyoteAB
Champion Author Alberta

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:39:19 PM

Probably no more dangerous than propane vehicles, cleaner and less emission is the best for everyone. As far as coet, once the tax is put on and there are lots of vehicles on the road, BIG OIL will do the same as they are doing with crude and gasoline right now, ---- RIP US OFF.
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The_Nitehawk
Rookie Author Alaska

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:37:34 PM

There is a huge natural gas supply here in Alaska but they are bickering over the pipeline about what direction that will go and who is going to build it. It is needed NOW not only for the gas itself but for the jobs! However, we still need to work on the electric, hybrid, and hydrogen cars. Those technologies will reap enormous rewards in almost every aspect of our lives in the future.
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lindact
Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:35:12 PM

Viable hope for the future. These kinds of articles are good to read.
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Speedy1W1
All-Star Author Madison

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:30:51 PM

I want one. Where do I get one from?
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chipcheap
Rookie Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:27:09 PM

If they build it, there will be buyers.
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dieselfreak
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:26:50 PM

Forget electric cars and hybrid cars.

As natural gas continues to grow in supply, and drop in price, I can see it replacing gasoline as the main source of automotive fuel in the not too distant future. There is lots of supply in North America, Central America, and Europe. Right now, there is more natural gas than they know what to do with, and more coming from Shale discoveries all the time.
Its the clean, alternative fuel of the future.
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stugha
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:26:13 PM

In europe there are many cars running propane and natuaral gas.
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Betsy3266
All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:24:19 PM

I have not seen a natural gas station to fuel up.
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bbreff
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:21:44 PM



Is ther a cost factor including conversion? What about availability?

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jedintheshed
All-Star Author Colorado Springs

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:18:34 PM

How much is this going to cost?
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hwnguy
Champion Author Honolulu

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:14:52 PM

not here... not enough demand
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papagreg
Champion Author Sacramento

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:13:03 PM

I don't know where you live, sg413, however, I sold a duel fuel (CNG & Unleaded) Ford Concours because trying to refill was a difficult option.
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sg413
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:10:50 PM

The key advantage for Natural Gas is that it has an established distribution system. If everyone could fill up at home, you eliinate the gas distribution infrastructure thus eliminating a portion of the cost.
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QueenMother
Champion Author New Hampshire

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Message Posted: Jul 2, 2009 1:10:14 PM

It's more expensive than oil to heat a home.
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