| Natural gas is an environmentally clean,
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| | From the gas field to the vehicle's
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| plentiful, low-cost,
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| | engine, natural gas requires very little
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| domestically-produced fuel for motor
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| | processing to make it suitable for use as
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| vehicles. But is it a safe fuel? Any
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| | a fuel. Gasoline and diesel must be
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| automobile fuel can be dangerous if
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| | processed from crude oil in large and
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| handled improperly. Fuels contain energy
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| | complex oil refineries. After water
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| which must be released by burning.
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| | vapor, sulfur and heavy hydrocarbons are
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| Gasoline is a potentially dangerous fuel,
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| | removed, natural gas flows by pipeline
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| but, over time, we have learned to use it
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| | (the safest way to transport energy)
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| safely. The same is true of natural gas.
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| | directly to the fueling station where it
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| Natural gas safely generates our
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| | is compressed for use. Alternatively it
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| electricity, heats our homes and cooks
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| | may be liquefied at cryogenic
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| our meals. But, like gasoline, natural
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| | temperatures on site or at a central
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| gas must be understood and respected to
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| | facility and delivered by truck. Gasoline
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| be used safely.
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| | and diesel are delivered to fueling
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| Natural gas is a naturally occurring fuel
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| | stations by tank trucks over the highway.
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| which requires very little processing
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| | At a compressed natural gas fueling
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| before use. Chemically it normally
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| | station the gas is compressed before
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| consists of over 90% methane with smaller
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| | being provided to vehicles at 3000 to
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| amounts of ethane, propane, butane,
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| | 3600 pounds per square inch (psi).
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| carbon dioxide and other trace gases. The
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| | Stations can deliver a "fast fill" to
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| high methane content gives natural gas
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| | vehicles in minutes or, using a "slow
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| its high octane rating (120-130) and
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| | fill" strategy, in a few hours to
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| clean-burning characteristics, allowing
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| | overnight.
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| high engine efficiency and low emissions.
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| | Although the use of high storage
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| As with all vehicle fuels, natural gas
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| | pressures might appear dangerous,
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| can be used safely if simple, common
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| | compression, storage and fueling of
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| sense procedures are followed. In fact,
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| | natural gas vehicles meet stringent
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| natural gas has safety advantages
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| | industry and government safety standards.
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| compared to gasoline and diesel: it is
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| | Natural gas powered vehicles are designed
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| non-toxic, and has no potential for
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| | and built to be safe both in normal
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| ground or water contamination in the
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| | operation and in crashes. New natural gas
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| event of a fuel release. An odorant is
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| | vehicles are subjected to the same crash
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| added to provide a distinctive and
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| | tests as other vehicles. Natural gas
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| intentionally disagreeable smell which is
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| | vehicle fuel systems must meet Federal
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| easy to recognize.
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| | Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 303 and
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| The odor is detectable at one-fifth of
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| | 304. Natural gas cylinders are much
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| the gas' lower flammability limit.
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| | thicker and stronger than gasoline or
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| Natural gas vehicles have an excellent
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| | diesel tanks. Industry standards require
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| safety record for two primary reasons:
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| | them to withstand 11,250 fill cycles, and
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| the properties of the fuel itself and the
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| | endure far beyond normal environmental
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| integrity of the natural gas vehicle and
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| | and service damage risks.
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| its fuel delivery system. Natural gas has
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| | Although there are approximately 85,000
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| a very limited range of flammability - it
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| | natural gas vehicles now operating in the
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| will not burn in concentrations below
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| | United States, there has not been a fuel
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| about five percent or above about 15%
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| | tank rupture in over two years. In Italy,
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| when mixed with air. Gasoline and diesel
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| | with over 300,000 NGVs in operation,
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| burn at much lower concentrations and
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| | there was only one fuel tank rupture
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| ignite at lower temperatures. Although it
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| | during the last three years.
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| takes very little energy to ignite a
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| | In conclusion, technical data,
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| flammable mixture of air and natural gas,
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| | appropriate safety regulations and years
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| gasoline, or diesel, natural gas burns at
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| | of experience show natural gas vehicles
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| a somewhat lower temperature.
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| | to be as safe as, or safer than,
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| ~~View Details:
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| | conventionally fueled vehicles.
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