Natural Gas Fleet Vehicles

For an individual consultation with a Virginia Natural Gas representative, please complete the following brief survey.

For information on AGL’s CNG Infrastructure Plan please click here.

What is a Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV)?
It’s a vehicle powered by natural gas rather than traditional gasoline or diesel fuel. NGVs operate on the same basic principles as traditionally-fueled vehicles but are cleaner for the environment, quieter and more economical.

Urban transportation is a leading cause for poor air quality. Many environmentally conscious individuals are looking hard at NGVs as an energy efficient, cleaner alternative to gasoline vehicles. Many corporations, governmental agencies and other institutions also can benefit greatly by incorporating NGVs into their fleet plans.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles operate on natural gas that has been compressed to take up less storage space. CNG also may be used in diesel-type engines where natural gas replaces the majority of the fuel, but a small amount of diesel is injected as the ignition source.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) also may be used in some applications because the fuel occupies even less space in liquid form. LNG vehicles operate basically the same way as CNG vehicles but the fuel is stored in liquid form and then is vaporized before being introduced to the engine.

• Proven and Reliable – nearly 9 million NGVs are in use worldwide, with more than 120,000 in the U.S.
• Eco-conscious – CNG vehicles are cleaner than traditional vehicles, producing up to 90% fewer emissions than gasoline or diesel. They greatly reduce pollutants from emissions such as CO and NOX, and produce little or no evaporative emissions during fueling and use.
• Energy Efficient – natural gas supplies are abundant domestically, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and weather-related shortages
• Economical – Recent trends in geopolitical events and fuel supply have increased the cost advantage of natural gas over oil and gasoline.
• Reduced Greenhouse Gases - NGVs reduce greenhouse gases 20-29% over diesel and gasoline.
• Quieter – Heavy-duty NGVs have an 80-90% lower decibel level than comparable diesel vehicles
• Incentives – Significant tax credits and other incentives are available from the Federal and State governments for converting to NGVs

• Buses/Mass Transit – Transit agencies across the country are increasingly switching to NGVs.
• Taxis, Vans and Shuttles – Airport and hotel shuttles, taxi services, etc., can save money and pass those savings along to their customers when they switch to a CNG fleet.
• Service-Provider fleets – Several major U.S-based companies recently have invested heavily in natural gas fleet vehicles.

Safety
Natural gas is an inherently safe fuel and, unlike gasoline, dissipates into the atmosphere in the event of an accident. The high ignition temperature and limited flammability range make accidental ignition or combustion of natural gas unlikely.

What natural gas vehicles and engines are available?
Visit the NGV America website for a complete list. Get general information at agvamerica.org.

How do I compare the cost/fuel economy of CNG vs. gasoline?
Natural gas is sold in Gasoline Gallon Equivalents (GGE).

One GGE = 1.25 therms of natural gas (approximately)

For example: if the cost of natural gas were $1 per therm, it would be $1.25 per GGE. Now compare that to today’s cost of gas at the pump.

There typically is no difference in fuel economy between a CNG vehicle and a gasoline vehicle – if you get 25 mpg with gasoline, you would average 25 miles per GGE with natural gas but it would likely cost much less to fill up.

NGV Fueling
At CNG stations, the gas is typically taken from the local gas utility’s line at low pressure, compressed, then dispensed into the vehicle's storage tanks at high pressure. There are two basic types of fueling equipment: fast-fill and time-fill.

• Fast-fill systems combine a compressor and a high-pressure storage system. The storage system, called a cascade, fills the vehicle's fuel tank in about the same time it takes to fuel a regular vehicle.
• Time-fill systems do not have a storage system and typically refuel vehicles overnight at a rate of about one gallon per hour.

Public CNG stations are currently limited, but individual consumers or public/private fleet operators may choose to install their own CNG fueling stations.

Individual consumers – A Vehicle Refueling Appliance (VRA) or Home Refueling Appliance (HRA), known as the "Phill” unit, is available for homes or small businesses. For more information, visit impcotechnologies.com.

Download the Phil brochure >

Public/private fleet operators – CNG stations for fleet vehicles range in size and type, and are typically customized for the company’s specific needs.

Download the BRC FuelMaker brochure >

Virginia Natural Gas can assist fleet operators with construction and maintenance of NGV fueling stations.  We’ll be glad to help you assess the feasibility of converting your fleet to natural gas!