American Gas - August/September 2011 - (Page 25)

By Robert Zabors and Manisha Shah Is Now the Time for NGVs? A The natural gas commodity plays a role in practically all of these alternatives. For instance, marginal on-peak electric generation for EV charging in most parts of the United States will come from gas-fired plants. However, it is the direct use of liquefied (LNG) and compressed (CNG) natural gas in vehicles that warrants greater dialogue and evaluation. The emergence of America’s alternative fuel consciousness could mean more natural gas vehicles will soon hit the road. remarkable alignment of geopolitical, economic and environmental interests, supported by technology innovation, is creating an excellent context for broader adoption of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). While the initial wave of headlines, and federal funding, has gone to electric vehicles (EVs), the race to displace gasoline as a transportation fuel should increasingly rely upon vehicles fueled by natural gas and biofuels. Interest fizzled when oil prices stabilized, only to rise again temporarily in the 1990s, driven in part by air quality concerns, and involving considerable investments in fueling infrastructure along with support for new models from vehicle original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Since then, the U.S. NGV population has leveled off at approximately 120,000 vehicles, limited by: sporadic NgV adoption in the past Introduced to the United States in the 1930s, natural gas vehicles (NGVs) were first seriously considered as a mainstream transportation solution in the 1970s during the oil crisis. Uncertain Economics for Vehicle Owners. With few OEM options available and strict environmental regulations, vehicle owners incur increased initial costs to retrofit conventional gasoline engines to natural gas. Volatile natural gas prices, recurring fears of natural AmericAn GAs ROBERT ZABORS is a director and energy practice leader and MANISHA SHAH is a principal with the Bridge Strategy Group LLC, a Chicago-based management consulting firm committed to helping clients develop actionable business strategies and rapidly improve their business performance. www.bridgestrategy.com august/september 2011 25 http://www.bridgestrategy.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Gas - August/September 2011

American Gas - August/September 2011
Contents
President’s Message
In the Know
Industry News
Safety First
Is Now the Time for NGVs?
NGVs for America
The Drive to Succeed
Peer Pressures
Vendor News
Marketplace
Advertisers’ Index
Places to Be
Noteworthies
Jobline
Facts on Gas

American Gas - August/September 2011