Nat Gas Conversion on MSNBC

[Roddy]

Anyone watch that this morning, or continuing watching? Very interesting, I found a kit on ebay for very cheap. This looks promising! Basically, they're converting regular gas vehicles to nat gas/gas hybrids, doing the conversion on the show and going to test drive the vehicle (a pick-up) in an hour or so!

Vehicle is reported to get....wait for it.....80 MPG with nat gas costing around $1 or so (they're reporting less, I'm seeing more in other areas). And, this can be done on ANY fuel-injected or carb engine...as they report!

 

[OGKushman]

Almost all of SoCal Edison's vehicles are CNG powered...it's been around for some time, but the pump needed to fill the tank at home is expensive, and not just anyone can fill pressurized CNG tanks from home.

Now let me clarify that 80MPG DID NOT ACTUALLY HAPPEN. 80 mpg is the "gasoline equivalent" due to the cost of CNG in comparison to gas. The car gets 20mpg at 4$ a gallon gas, now if CNG is 1$ a gallon then the gasoline equivalent is 80MPG.

So it doesnt get 80 Miles Per Gallon, it goes 80 miles for the cost of one gallon of gasoline.

 

[Roddy]

I wondered how they came to that number but never heard (was a bit high while trying to watch and do a few other things), I taped the show and plan to watch again soon!!

THANKS for the info, OG!

 

[Grower13]

all 18 wheelers need to be converted to natrual gas much cleaner burning fuel.

 

[OGKushman]

Natural gas is cleaner burning, but diesel is still the most efficient hydrocarbon to use in logistics. It's all about the energy per unit...i.e.:$$$$$

 

[PartyBro420]

I don't think Natgas can produce the kind of torque needed for towing though. So in 18 wheelers it wouldn't really be a good idea, even in larger vehicles like trucks that tow trailers/boats/equip etc.

 

[Roddy]

Not sure, they were converting some big 4x4 trucks on the news piece, looked like plenty of torque and power. HOWEVER, I did get a chance to see "the rest of the story"....it ain't purdy, folks!

The conversion they did and kept touting as cheap or inexpensive or cost effective etc....$8000 installed. The fueling device for your home (they do say anyone can use, not sure)....$7000. The system I saw on ebay was $500...betting it's not worth it, as my mom said "if it's too good to be true..."

The guy kept standing there saying how someone that drove 15k a year would get a return on their investment in 8 months...impossible. I mean, yeah....IF the guy was an employee at the shop, the shop provided the kit and labor....maybe. Then, he'd only need save $7000 (the price of a home fueling device). :rofl: :rofl: No, guess that just doesn't jive either!

 

[TheKlonedRanger]

I work for a very large natural gas company. In my state, CNG (compressed natural gas) vehicles are becoming more common. Gas stations are being converted to offer regular gasoline pumps and CNG pumps. Also, here you can buy already converted vehicles (Honda, Chevy, gmc and ford all offer already converted CNG cars for a fraction of the aftermarket cost.

When the infrastructure is set up correctly, it should only take about a year to come out ahead financially.

Gas is $4 a gallon here
Natural gas is around $2 and still falling.

 

[getnasty]

How is this going to effect the oil industry? As far as I know, the oil industry is the only reason we haven't put out more vehicles that run off hydroelectrolysis, or whatever they call it... electricity + water to create combustion, nearest I understand it.

 

[The Effen Gee]

Yay!

Fossil fuel! Lets burn up all that stored solar energy as fast as we can!

Than, we can fight over whats left. Sounds like a great plan huh?





...Isn't capitalism grand?

 

[OGKushman]

The very moment we move to some other fuel source besides gasoline, that source will become more expensive. Thats just simple supply and demand. Demand goes up and so does the price...

Think about this...whats the price of the four 1-liter bottles of water you got from a store (~gallon)?...probably ~4$

 

[Roddy]

The very moment we move to some other fuel source besides gasoline, that source will become more expensive. Thats just simple supply and demand. Demand goes up and so does the price...

Meanwhile, demand on the other sources goes down, taking the prices with them! Demand on all forms of fuel brings down consumption of oil....which is a small victory, regardless...imho! Truly, any chance we have of minimizing our needs from other sources (countries) should be taken and developed (as long as we're serious...not like the current admin).