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Natural-gas stations fall behind
23 comments | Read story
Dude | 3:28 a.m. July 8, 2008
CNGUtah.com has a video that shows Jay Leno learning about Natural Gas Vehicles
and they show that you can have a pump installed at your house. So, you could
fill up at home. (I hear this costs about $4,000 to do that though.) Anyway I
guess there are pros and cons to owning a Natural Gas vehicle.
Tomas | 5:11 a.m. July 8, 2008
Don't let stories like this scare you away from natural gas as a fuel. I
bought two bi-fuels eight years ago and the savings have more than paid for both
cars. The lines to buy CNG for a $3+ saving are shorter than people are waiting
through at Costco for $0.22 savings. Plus, by driving on natural gas you are not
polluting as much, you are not helping to fund those who hate the USA in the
Middle East, and you are not contributing to the insanity of "big oil"
at home.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA | 6:25 a.m. July 8, 2008
What? CNG is the answer? This is just the beginning. Just wait, more
compitition for the pumps is coming and the pumps will not be able to handle it
as well as the soon to come price jump because of demand. Enjoy it while you
can.
Comments continue below
SLC gal | 7:17 a.m. July 8, 2008
There's not enough demand... are you kidding me????? When fillerups are up
to 6 a gallon, those convresion tanks are going to look like a huge money
saver!!!!!
Anonymous | 7:58 a.m. July 8, 2008
The answer is the Phill station at your own home. Government should give tax
exemptions on the interest received to finance the purchase and installation of
these Phill stations. More financial institutions might get involved in funding
these. The Public Service Commission will help keep natural gas prices low for
many years to come since most low income and retired people on fixed incomes
depend on affordable natural gas for heating and cooking. Industry in Utah also
depends heavily on affordable natural gas and proximity to gas fields and
pipeline infra-structure in Utah should continue to assure the cheapest natural
gas in the lower 48 states.
newbie | 9:02 a.m. July 8, 2008
where can I get a conversion kit?
Chuckles55 | 9:22 a.m. July 8, 2008
$4, $5, $6 per gallon. Keep it coming. Finally, looking to alternative fuels
is becoming cost effective. Within a few months, I predict that the bugs in
compressed natural gas (CNG) delievery will be worked out. Other alternatives
will become more attractive, as well. All of this will decrease our dependence
on volatile dictators and their current monopoly on fossile fuels and the
pollution those fules engender. I have faith in the brain power in the USA and
our propensity to learn to make silk purses out of ugly looking worms.
E. Nygma | 9:53 a.m. July 8, 2008
Celluolosic ethanol & CNG are the best stopgaps until Hydrogen is ready.
Stewart | 10:13 a.m. July 8, 2008
Like using food for (ethanol) fuel, using CNG to replace oil will cause a
distortion in the price of natural gas and large increases in home heating.
If you go CNG for your car, you may as well go for the home compressor for about $4,000 and refuel at home. When we have a million or so of these in operation, the price of natural gas to fuel your car will probably about equal gasoline. I remember when diesel and kerosene were less expensive than gasoline, because less refining is required. Now due to their heavy use by trucks, trains, and airplanes they are more expensive.
If large numbers begin using CNG on which there is no state or federal road tax, who is going to pay for the road construction and repair?? I guess those that are left using gasoline and diesel. That ought to increase the rate of conversion and demand increasing the price of natural gas for everyone. The rule of unintended consequences remains in force.
If you go CNG for your car, you may as well go for the home compressor for about $4,000 and refuel at home. When we have a million or so of these in operation, the price of natural gas to fuel your car will probably about equal gasoline. I remember when diesel and kerosene were less expensive than gasoline, because less refining is required. Now due to their heavy use by trucks, trains, and airplanes they are more expensive.
If large numbers begin using CNG on which there is no state or federal road tax, who is going to pay for the road construction and repair?? I guess those that are left using gasoline and diesel. That ought to increase the rate of conversion and demand increasing the price of natural gas for everyone. The rule of unintended consequences remains in force.
SLC Eng | 10:15 a.m. July 8, 2008
In talking to Questar they built the existing network of CNG stations for their
own use and to support bifuel autos built around 2000 which are wearing out.
Currently Honda is the only car manufacture I know of building CNG cars. The
are not bifuel like the cars in the past but CNG only. There are rumors that
Ford will start producing bifuel cars again. So Questar is in the hard spot of
having demand for CNG double over the past year causing the low pressures at
stations. The question is what will they do in the future?
This pressure shortage is hitting all NGV, but the Honda's are single fuel. If they are out of GNG and the station is down or have low pressure they can't fill up with gas so they can drive to the next cng station, they are stranded. For that reason I never let my tank get very low. Spending the money to be able to fill up at home is not a good cost option but may become a necessity.
This pressure shortage is hitting all NGV, but the Honda's are single fuel. If they are out of GNG and the station is down or have low pressure they can't fill up with gas so they can drive to the next cng station, they are stranded. For that reason I never let my tank get very low. Spending the money to be able to fill up at home is not a good cost option but may become a necessity.
Fossil Fuel | 11:06 a.m. July 8, 2008
Do you all not realize that natural gas is a fossil fuel too? It used to be a
waste product of oil production, but now it is profitable the energy, aka oil,
companies are producing it.
GO GAS GO!!! | 12:04 p.m. July 8, 2008
WE NEED MORE GNG CARS AND HYBRID, SO THE OIL MAFIA CAN SELL OIL FOR LESS, WE
MUST SPEAK OUT!!! NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ABOUT IT, G8 IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT,
THEY WANT MONEY FROM GAS BUYER AND WAR!!!
Hobknob | 12:08 p.m. July 8, 2008
While it is possible to fill up at home with the proper equipment it takes hours
to do so. The fill rate is only 1/4 to 1/2 gallon an hour. This makes it good
for overnight stays but pretty useless otherwise.
I drive a dedicated CNG and when the filling stations are shut down you are stranded. There isn't a portable gas can for CNG.
I drive a dedicated CNG and when the filling stations are shut down you are stranded. There isn't a portable gas can for CNG.
brian | 12:17 p.m. July 8, 2008
newbie - search the net for kits. they're all over. cngoutfitters.com
sells galileo systems and has a station locator
wrz | 12:33 p.m. July 8, 2008
Stewart | 10:13 a.m. July 8, 2008:
"When we have a million or so of these in operation, the price of natural gas to fuel your car will probably about equal gasoline."
It's my understanding that natural gas companies must apply to a government entity for rate increases. This should help stabilize prices... together with the fact that natural gas is not traded on the commodities market by speculators. Could mean that natural gas may be cheap for a long time.
Does anyone have any facts on this?
"When we have a million or so of these in operation, the price of natural gas to fuel your car will probably about equal gasoline."
It's my understanding that natural gas companies must apply to a government entity for rate increases. This should help stabilize prices... together with the fact that natural gas is not traded on the commodities market by speculators. Could mean that natural gas may be cheap for a long time.
Does anyone have any facts on this?
Freddie | 12:50 p.m. July 8, 2008
wrz - natural gas is traded on the NYMEX, as is ethanol, heating oil, propane,
etc.
Accordingly, speculation may well send these commodities higher, as it has oil.
Accordingly, speculation may well send these commodities higher, as it has oil.
Sprocketeer | 1:26 p.m. July 8, 2008
"Celluolosic ethanol & CNG are the best stopgaps until Hydrogen is
ready."
Do you want to be part of the problem or the solution? IMHO, any viable solution that moves us away from petroleum is a good one until a permanent renewable source is fully developed. Yes, CNG cost will go up and it will have a road tax applied soon but for me the cost of fuel is not the only reason to switch. I want to be part of the solution!
Do you want to be part of the problem or the solution? IMHO, any viable solution that moves us away from petroleum is a good one until a permanent renewable source is fully developed. Yes, CNG cost will go up and it will have a road tax applied soon but for me the cost of fuel is not the only reason to switch. I want to be part of the solution!
Dave | 2:02 p.m. July 8, 2008
Natural gas has been cheap in Utah for years due to distribution problems. The
pipelines haven't existed or have had maintenance problems - hence the
price disparities between Utah and the rest of the nation. This is changing and
prices will increase here. Prices will also increase as suppliers are forced to
upgrade their equipment (as mentioned in the article).
The problem with these inevitable price increase is that they won't just affect drivers of CNG vehicles.
With any price increase (due to increased demand, increased distribution capacity, or equipment upgrades), we'll all be paying more to heat our homes. CNG cars are fine, but people driving them shouldn't think it's a perfect solution that doesn't hurt anyone.
The problem with these inevitable price increase is that they won't just affect drivers of CNG vehicles.
With any price increase (due to increased demand, increased distribution capacity, or equipment upgrades), we'll all be paying more to heat our homes. CNG cars are fine, but people driving them shouldn't think it's a perfect solution that doesn't hurt anyone.
Anonymous | 3:04 p.m. July 8, 2008
I remember seeing a story on the news once about a guy who had his own fill
station for natural gas at his house. It was a pump that pumped the natural gas
into a cylinder.
what Utah really needs is a nuclear power plant to make electricity cheap. that way we could make more use of natural gas for transportation and be free of middle east oil.
what Utah really needs is a nuclear power plant to make electricity cheap. that way we could make more use of natural gas for transportation and be free of middle east oil.
Anonymous | 4:48 p.m. July 8, 2008
Whre all the liberals?
They sure aren't out helping build the infrastucture needed to use alternatives.
They sure aren't out helping build the infrastucture needed to use alternatives.
anonymous | 9:55 p.m. July 8, 2008
What is wrong with QUESTAR? Do they not want to use their enormous gas monopoly
PROFITS to upgrade their CNG filling station infrastructure. Do they not realize
the more CNG they sale the more huge profits they will make. Share holders
making an average of 12%-14% a year in profits on their stocks in the last few
years! What does the average person think about this subject?
RE: anony 9:55 | 4:53 p.m. July 9, 2008
That's the way it is liberals, it is always someone elses responsiblity.
Clean_Burning | 1:03 p.m. July 15, 2008
If �100 Utah businesses and government agencies operate
some 3,500 natural-gas vehicles,� then they should take a
close look into the Clean Energy model of support for fleets.
For qualifying fleets, Clean Energy Fuels�the leading producer of Natural Gas in North America��may cover 100% of the cost to design, build and construct the fueling station, in exchange for an affordable, long-term fueling contract.�
For qualifying fleets, Clean Energy Fuels�the leading producer of Natural Gas in North America��may cover 100% of the cost to design, build and construct the fueling station, in exchange for an affordable, long-term fueling contract.�
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Lorna Moore of Clearfield fills up her Chevy S10 with natural gas at a Questar filling station on 1100 West and 200 South in Salt Lake City.
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