In a previous post I highlighted electric vehicles as beings the future of transport. Now let’s talk about the present. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has been touted as a cheaper and cleaner solution to using traditional gasoline. According to the CNG TT website, it is a clear, odourless and non-corrosive fuel alternative; but of course, like just about anything else, it has its pros and cons. We’ll start with the good stuff.
Savings
In Trinidad & Tobago, CNG costs only $1 per liter; nearly 5x cheaper than super gasoline and almost 6x cheaper than premium gasoline. In addition to this the government has removed the Motor Vehicle Tax and Value Added Tax (VAT) on new and used (less than 2 years old) vehicles which are manufactured for CNG. These vehicles also require less maintenance as they burn cleaner and leave little to no by-products of combustion. The engine oil remains clean for longer periods resulting in minimised engine wear and less frequent oil changes.
Emissions
Compressed Natural Gas has far less harmful emissions such as carbon monoxide , carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide which are reduced by as much as 95% when compared to gasoline vehicles. Also, in the event that there is a leak, it doesn’t pose a risk of contamination as the fuel is non-toxic. The engine also runs quieter due to the higher octane rating.
Safety
Because of its properties, CNG is a very safe fuel, as it is lighter than air and will quickly disperse into the atmosphere in the event of any leakage; instead of pooling on the ground, causing a tremendous fire hazard. Its low flammability rating of 5 to 15 percent and high ignition temperature of 540 degrees Celsius makes it very unlikely to catch fire as well.
So now that we’ve covered a bit of the pros regarding CNG, let’s flip the coin and seek out the cons.
What are the barriers that may prevent a driver from making the switch?
Refill Stations
As of this writing there are only about thirteen (13) active CNG refilling station stations in Trinidad & Tobago with two of them reserved only for the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC). Many of them are also concentrated in the western part of Trinidad, making it potentially very inconvenient for drivers from other parts of the country.
Vehicle Weight
A CNG-converted vehicle will be heavier because of the cylindrical tank installed in the trunk. Unless it is a racecar, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Trunk Space
If you’re someone who regularly uses the full capacity of your trunk, then doing a conversion could be problematic as the tank will take up significant space in the trunk of your vehicle.
Engine Power
Using CNG can reduce your overall engine power by up to 10 percent.
CONCLUSION
Based on the evidence presented, it appears that making the switch to CNG would be good for environment that we live in as well as your pocket. So while the inevitable transition to electric vehicles is on the horizon, we can make small changes today that can have a positive impact on our society, taking one step in the right direction.
Sources
http://burmactt.com/cng.html
https://www.gnvmagazine.com/en/trinidad-y-tobago-completara-estacion-de-gnc-a-finales-de-ano-2/
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