Should Natural Gas Vehicles be considered as part of the portfolio of transportation solutions?

Natural Gas Vehicle Emissions
Compared with vehicles fueled with conventional diesel and gasoline, natural gas vehicles can produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and toxic and carcinogenic pollutants as well as the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions: CNG vs. Gasoline
Testing has been performed to compare the emissions of light-duty CNG vehicles versus light-duty gasoline vehicles. For detailed results, see the Vehicle Technologies Emissions Testing http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/avta/light_duty/afv/emissions_description.html
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculated the potential benefits of CNG versus gasoline based on the inherently cleaner-burning characteristics of natural gas, summarized in Clean Alternative Fuels: Compressed Natural Gas.http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/pdfs/epa_cng.pdf
Reduces carbon monoxide emissions 90%-97%
Reduces carbon dioxide emissions 25%
Reduces nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
Potentially reduces non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%-75%
Emits fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
Emits little or no particulate matter
Eliminates evaporative emissions
As automakers have improved the emissions performance of gasoline vehicles to keep pace with stricter emissions regulations, improvements in CNG vehicles have kept their emissions performance ahead of the pack. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called the natural gas Honda Civic GX http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/search/light/autos/985 the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle on Earth. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Guide http://www.fueleconomy.gov/the Civic GX with other cars for environmental impact and petroleum savings.

• It’s Clean
• It’s Cost attractive
• It’s Abundant
• The Technology is here today, and
• It supports Energy Security