This is the second post in a three-part series providing a 360-degree view of the trends, challenges and advances impacting the adoption of natural gas transportation. In this post, David Mazaika looks at the challenges impacting natural gas and ways around them. In case you missed it and would like to read the first post – here’s it is .
Natural gas is one of the most exciting and potentially transformative alternative fuels on the market. Adding natural gas vehicles to your fleet can help you lower fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions and access a fuel that’s domestically sourced and abundant. Even with the fuel savings and environmental benefits, challenges to the broad adoption of natural gas vehicles remain.
Here are what we see as the 7 biggest challenges/roadblocks for Natural Gas – and how savvy fleet owner/operators get around them:
- Compressed Natural Gas or Liquid Natural Gas?
Historically, one of the biggest barriers to adoption has been choosing the right technology for the application. Natural gas vehicles come in two flavors – Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). CNG is typically $.50 to $1 per gallon equivalent less expensive than LNG. This makes CNG a more economical choice – if stations are available. - Complexity and lack of information/understanding
Purchasing a natural gas truck is inherently more complex than buying a diesel vehicle. The key is getting answers to these three questions:- Where and how do I get my fuel system?
Most CNG fuel systems in heavy trucks (like those designed by Quantum) are ordered separately from trucks because truck manufacturers don’t install them. However dealers and specialized firms like Fontaine, CVS, Probilt, and MHC can install them. - How much natural gas do I need on-board?
CNG storage options are available to carry anywhere from 40 to more than 200 gallon-equivalents. First, calculate how many gallons you’ll need to run the route(s) on diesel. Then, add 15 percent to compensate for engine efficiency. This is how many Diesel Gallon Equivalents (DGEs) you’ll have to carry. Then, for fast-fill applications, add 20 percent to account for CNG heat compression (the gas gets hot when compressed in the tank and expands, so you need a larger volume tank to hold the fuel). You’ll want to store enough fuel on board so that you’re comfortable, but not so much that it unnecessarily slows your payback. - What CNG storage configuration is best for my truck?
CNG systems come in two storage configuration designs: back-of-cab and frame-rail mount. Choose the configuration that makes the most sense for your vehicle. Look at trade-offs in ground clearance for off-road applications and turning radius for maneuvering narrow city streets, based on the wheelbase of the truck.
- Where and how do I get my fuel system?
- High initial acquisition cost
Historically, one of the key factors limiting the growth of natural gas fleets has been the high initial cost of the vehicles. For a long-distance application, a diesel truck might cost around $110,000. The cost of an equivalent natural gas vehicle ranges from $160,000 to $170,000. This differential is coming down as the volume of CNG vehicles increases.Also, even though you’ll recoup the difference in about two years, you’ll need more upfront capital. One way around this? Leasing programs such as that offered by Ryder. It minimizes cost and risk and lets you to save on fuel from day one. - Heavyweight storage systems
While the weight of CNG systems was an issue for a long time, (some CNG systems weighed in at more than 3,000 lbs.), that’s changing. Modern CNG system designs weigh as little as 1,600 lbs. CNG systems don’t need many of the items that diesel trucks do: diesel particulate filters, urea injection systems, DEF fluid and tanks. As a result, the net weight increase of a CNG vehicle is closer to 640 to 900 lbs., depending on the configuration. With new, lighter-weight CNG tank systems CNG trucks are now viable for hauling beverages or fuel. - Limited commercial fueling infrastructure
Infrastructure has long been a barrier to adoption. That’s changing too. Today, there are more than 1,300 public and private natural gas stations around the country.A smaller subset of those stations accommodates heavy-duty trucks. Continued investment by companies like Clean Energy, Kwik Trip, Trillium, Loves, Questar, GE and others are expanding the network of CNG stations. - Range limitations
Range goes hand in hand with fuel infrastructure limitations. Before 2008, the furthest a natural gas vehicle could travel was about 150 miles. Today, the distance between fueling stations is less than 500 miles and vehicles can go well over 500 miles between fill-ups. - Maintenance facility adaptation for natural gas
Another roadblock has been building or retrofitting garages for proper safety when working with natural gas vehicles. If you spill diesel in a garage, it pools on the floor. No problem. Garages were designed to accommodate these types of fuel spills. However, if you’re operating natural gas vehicles and “spill,” the natural gas floats and dissipates.Here’s the problem. If you’re located in a northern state and it’s winter, your garage may have an open-flame heater that burns fuel oil. You don’t want natural gas escaping and floating because it could rise up near the open-flame heater and catch fire before dissipating. Likewise, you wouldn’t put an open-flame heater on the floor if you were servicing gasoline vehicles. Bottom line, servicing natural gas vehicles requires reasonable changes in garage setup and ventilation and working with the local fire authority to determine what changes are required.
Want to learn more about advances in natural gas vehicle technology and the low-risk route to incorporating an alternative fuel component into your fleet? You can download our white paper on this below.
David Mazaika is Executive Director, Strategic Development at Quantum Technologies. He is a transportation professional with more than 20 years of experience in alternative fuels and hybrid powertrains for heavy-duty buses and trucks. Throughout his career, Mr. Mazaika has played an active role in advancing the heavy-duty vehicle industry and bringing practical, cost saving technologies to market.
