An electric car hasn’t reached your garage, but a natural gas-fueled vehicle might

By Steve LeVine | Quartz – 1 hour 1 minute ago

Over the past dozen years, there’s been a 23% surge per year in the number of natural gas-fueled vehicles on the road, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency. That suggests natural gas-fueled vehicles may catch on in a way that fuel cells, hydrogen and batteries have failed.

The number of natural gas-propelled vehicles around the world increased to 16.2 million by mid-2012, up from 1.3 million in 2000. India and China’s gas-propelled vehicles totalled 2.7 million vehicles together as of mid-2012, up from 16,000 in 2000. And the International Association of Natural Gas Vehicles (IANGV), a pro-industry group, estimates that there will be 65 million natural gas-fueled vehicles on the road by 2020, a whopping growth rate of 19% per year.

*Continue reading the article here.

This is a good read, UPS also is buying all CNG trucks next year over traditional petrol or diesel trucks.

UPS to buy more Natural Gas Trucks to add to their existing 700 CNG trucks.

http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20130627/NEWS0107/306270329/

AT&T to Ryder driven to go Natural Gas as Oil continues to rise.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-29/at-t-to-ryder-driven-toward-natural-gas-vehicles-as-oil-soars.html

Over all the industry expects 19% growth in Natural Gas Auto sales through 2020. Good time to be in Natural Gas.

We should move this thread to the Alternative Fuel forum rather than the Lounge.

I sure hope so.

Seems India is moving to CNG rickshaws for mass transit.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/bajaj-4stroke-cng-autorickshaw-launched/article2588110.ece

Course Opel has a great family of CNG auto's that GM should bring here.

http://media.opel.com/media/intl/en/opel/vehicles/cng/2009.html

Consumer Vehicles : OPEL CNG Vehicles

OPEL Astra Caravan CNG

Fuel Types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Manufacturer: Opel
Available In: Czech Republic
Source: International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles
Additional Sources: CNG Website (Czech)

Comments: The Astra Caravan CNG was released in 2002 and has a small 14-liter (3 gallon) gasoline tank in addition to the CNG tank. It gets 71 hp and can travel 370 km (230 mi) on CNG and 520 km (323 mi), if you include the gasoline reserve.

OPEL Combo CNG

Fuel Types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Manufacturer: Opel
Available In: Germany, Spain
Source: International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles
Additional Sources: GM International

Comments: The Combo 1.6 CNG uses a monovalentplus engine, meaning that it runs primarily on natural gas (19 kg tank), but has a 14-liter (3 gallon) gasoline reserve tank in case there is not a natural gas fueling station nearby. It delivers 94 hp, has a range of 550 km (340 mi), and produces 133 g/CO2 per kilometer. The van has also been aerodynamically designed to reduce drag and improve efficiency.

OPEL Zafira CNG

Fuel Types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
Manufacturer: Opel
Available In: Germany, Spain
Source: International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles
Additional Sources: NetCarShow.com | Top Speed

Comments: The Zafira CNG was Opel’s first CNG vehicle, released seven years ago. For the 2009 model year, the engine has been updated to a 1.6-liter turbo CNG, delivering 150 hp and 210 Nm of torque. The previous engine only delivered 94 hp. It has been named the "Best Seven-Seater" in the German Motor Club Environmental Car List for five years in a row.

The infrastructure just isn't there, unless you don't mind filling up next to taxi cabs and buses.

Interesting how those Opels can run on CNG and gasoline..didn't know that was possible in the same engine...

Interesting how those Opels can run on CNG and gasoline..didn't know that was possible in the same engine...

Sure, GM makes BiFuel CNG/Petrol trucks and vans. Pretty much any auto can be converted to run on CNG. Opel has a conversion option for the Opel Adam that would be awesome.