Natural Gas Fleets
Natural gas vehicles have been the smart choice by large fleets for several years. For example, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority launched its clean fuel program in 1994 with the purchase of 196 CNG buses. In 2000, they purchased their 1000th CNG bus. Today, CNG vehicles comprise over 90% of its entire bus fleet, using approximately 40 million Gasoline Gallon Equivalents (GGEs) of CNG. This reduces air pollution particulates by 98%, carbon monoxide by 80%, and greenhouse gases by 20%.
In addition to the obvious environmental benefits, many studies of vehicle fleets used by a variety of entities conclusively show the realized monetary cost-savings of CNG over petroleum. The Cost savings of CNG over conventional fuel alone, which is less influenced by international political forces since it is almost entirely a domestic product, has decreased fuel expenses by as much as 50% for local governments, consumers, and businesses. In addition to lower fuel costs NGVs have significant life-cycle cost savings due to lower maintenance and operating costs.
In a review of SunLine Transit Agency’s experience with its fleet of 136 CNG powered buses and 73 diesel buses, the savings were clear. According to SunLine’s engineering manager Bruce Finley, “Miles of statistics can be summarized into one clear statement. No matter how data was analyzed, CNG was the winner. The data indicates labor for diesel equipment cost nearly twice as much as labor for CNG vehicles. Parts were 25% higher, fuel costs were nearly double.”
| Refuse Vehicles | Shuttle Buses |
| Forklifts | Taxis |
| Street Sweepers | Buses |
| School Buses | Law Enforcement |
| Delivery Vehicles |
Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Fleet Applications page with links to case studies:
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/fleets/fleet_applications.html
Wikipedia has a list of CNG vehicles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_natural_gas_vehicles
NVG America’s Guide to Available Natural Gas Vehicles
http://www.ngvc.org/pdfs/marketplace/MP.Analyses.NGVs-a.pdf
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