In reply to alfadriver:
The key word there, is "converted". It's these conversions that lead to a lot of headaches and compromises that can lead to poor reputation for the fuel across the board. Of course, not all conversions like this have issues, but they do all have compromises that a vehicle designed to use NG from the start won't have to make.
Propane came and went in Ontario. Kind of the same range worries that you have with an electric vehicle in that you need to plan ahead to make sure your have enough to get there and back.
When the filling stations died out, the cars followed suit. Don't know if we still have a station running here in London.
The idea of running natural gas off the home supply line is intriguing.Wonder what the cost would turn out to be once executed?
While not as convenient as gas stations, most welding shops sell a variety of gases, including CNG.
BTW, if you have your propane tanks refilled at a welding shop you can save nearly 50% over swapping the tanks at gas stations or Home Depots.
There are some technical challenges with LPG/CNG (alt fuel) engines (difficult cold starts for example) but they're trivial compared to the commercial challenges. Most consumers are just not going to buy an alt fuel vehicle if it's inconvenient to fill up. That means that until there is an infrastructure comparable to the gasoline distribution system there's not really a market. If truck fleet operators are more likely to invest in alt fuel if it makes commercial sense but they too need a place to fill up. Fleets that return to the same depot at night are perfect for this and that's why alt fuel trash trucks and buses are pretty common.
I've worked with many engine companies that are developing CNG and LPG engines or fuel systems and I've been part of some SAE conferences on CNG and LPG road vehicles and here's what's happening with long haul trucks.
The fleet operators are saying that they'll buy CNG/LPG trucks when the infrastructure is in place to fuel them and the infrastructure guys are saying they'll put in filling stations when there are fleets to support them.
Meanwhile there's no consensus on what the best fuel is (CNG or LPG) and they're basically competing with each other.
From an operator standpoint the advantages of converting disappear whenever conventional fuel prices drop and they've been low for a while.
APEowner wrote: The fleet operators are saying that they'll buy CNG/LPG trucks when the infrastructure is in place to fuel them and the infrastructure guys are saying they'll put in filling stations when there are fleets to support them.
The solution is usually government regulation. Pass a law that any trucks in category blahblah must use CNG. Anyone buying 20 or more in the first year get a three year tax benefit. Then everyone can happily 
plan for the change over on the target date. Improved emissions and expanded opportunity for passenger car infrastructure development will be spawned.
Brian wrote: I've seen 1 CNG filling station.
I've seen 2. One is at the nat gas company.
a bunch of the v8 rover guys on the other side of the pond are running lpg. They seem to need to run upgraded ignitions and a few other things, but it's far cheaper than gasoline.
grover wrote: a bunch of the v8 rover guys on the other side of the pond are running lpg. They seem to need to run upgraded ignitions and a few other things, but it's far cheaper than gasoline.
at not quite teens for MPGs and over $5 a gallon for regular, running upgraded ignitions and LPG is a worthwhile mod for a rover in the UK
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