CNG Infrastructure DevelopmentBG in car fuel breakthrough
By Tim Burt, Motor Industry Correspondent
Published: July 9 2000 16:46GMT | Last Updated: July 11 2000 13:39GMT
The future of motoring could be revolutionised by a scheme using domestic gas supplies as an alternative source of vehicle fuel, according to BG International, the gas exploration and production company.
After 10 years of research and pilot projects, the UK company - formerly part of British Gas - has developed a technology enabling motorists to refuel gas-powered cars at home.
BG has discussed the project with senior government ministers, who are said to have responded positively to the scheme.
"We see this as revolutionising fuel service provision," said Michael Kesztenbaum, vice president of consumer products at BG International. "We could ensure motorists never have to go to a petrol station again."
The breakthrough is being monitored closely by General Motors and Ford, the world’s two largest carmakers. Both companies have held preliminary discussions with BG.
It follows a mounting furore in Britain and the US over fuel prices, which have risen sharply under the twin pressure of taxation and high oil prices. UK campaigners are urging motorists to boycott filling stations next month in protest at fuel prices.
Until now, the use of natural gas vehicles has been inhibited by the lack of a refuelling infrastructure.
BG claims to have solved that problem by developing low cost conversion units, which could be installed in motorists’ garages or off-street parking bays, to transform domestic gas into compressed natural gas (CNG) for cars.
CNG is favoured by environmentalists because it causes less CO2 emissions than regular petrol and none of the particulates associated with diesel cars. It is also more than 30 per cent cheaper per litre than either fuel.
The first systems are expected to be installed in the UK over the next three years, followed by other markets including Argentina, India and Egypt. Senior BG managers are in Sao Paulo this week to discuss introducing the system in Brazil.
Existing fuel providers such as BP Amoco have responded cautiously to BG’s intiative, claiming that petrol and diesel will continue to fuel most cars for many years.
BG, however, estimates that up to half of the 19m UK households with gas supplies could be suitable for home refuelling.
"By the end of the decade we believe 10 per cent of existing petrol and diesel sales could be replaced by natural gas," said Mr Kesztenbaum. He also predicted that natural gas could be adapted for fuel cell cars, which would convert methane into zero-emission hydrogen using on-board reformers.
Of the estimated 493m cars on the world’s roads, only 1.3m are currently adapted for natural gas and a further 4.1m for the more widely-available liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
BG, nevertheless, expects demand to increase rapidly - particularly among commercial vehicle fleets using liquefied natural gas (LNG). A number of local councils have already adopted LNG for their refuse collection fleets.
The company has also had preliminary talks with London Taxis International, the largest manufacturer of black cabs, about using CNG in its vehicles.
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