We hear lots about hybrid cars and several manufacturers are making them, but what about natural gas? That's the cleanest fuel, and bought commercially it would be just over $2/gallon or fueled in your garage would be just over $1/gallon, according to an article today in USA Today. Only Honda is currently making a natural gas fueled car that's commercially available.

Back in the 80s when we were producing natural gas in Tennessee, and there was an oil shortage, we were selling natural gas so that school districts could run their school buses on natural gas. Companies like Tenneco used natural gas pickup trucks. They were fuel efficient!

True, you can only get about 200 miles to a tank, and true there are a very small number of "natural gas stations" to refuel - but there could be lots. Natural gas pipelines crisscross the country now. It's all about demand.

In California, you get to use the commuter fast lanes with a natural gas fueled cars - and unlike the hybrids, the allocation hasn't been used up.

Just think - less repairs, less cost, less environmental damage  -  guess too many companies are making too much money to promote natural gas for fuel in your car.

What say you, janeAnne? 

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.  

 

9 Comments on Green Cars? What about natural gas?

MAY
09
2007
972,132 Points 247 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Sure wouldn't mind clean fuel for our environment!  On top of that...maybe way cheaper than the $3.14 a gallon I just paid a little while ago... or if they have to ship it here...ah, the price to pay to live in paradise....geez.
7:35pm • #1
One of the problems with using natural gas is that if the demand were to increase, so would the price.  Also, all of the highway taxes would be applied to natural gas, which would also increase the supply.  I don't know how much of the dreaded CO2 would be produced either.  If the use of hydrogen is perfected, that would be the best fuel to use in the internal-combustion engine.  The down side of using any hydrocarbon and hydrogen is that the combustion of both types of fuels produces the number one green house gas - H2O or water vapor.
7:36pm • #2
1,596,322 Points 437 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It seems we need to do a much better job of finding the right energy solutions - price waise, environmental wise, and so on. You hit the nail on the head in your last paragraph IMO. Money talks, big time. Great post, Sharon.

Jeff
10:44pm • #3
329,956 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I learned something today. I didn't know Honda did a natural gas car. A large grocery chain in Denver uses natural gas in their delivery vans. It's a good next step, not the final step to greening the environment.
11:01pm • #4
MAY
10
2007
597,439 Points 106 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

The Federal Government ought to take the energy issue as serious as some of the other great projects in history.  If we could develop the technologies required for a green renewable energy our country would be truly rich.
3:47am • #5
601,535 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Sally - you would have a transportation problem. Do you have natural gas there?

Roger - thanks for your comments. I don't know much about hydrogen. I think there are a lot of undiscovered natural gas reserves that would be developed if the price were high enough.

Jeff - unfortunately, that's right.

Dena - it's better than what we're using now, so it is a step in the right direction.

Randy - When you let yourself imagine .... WOW!
4:11pm • #6
686,061 Points 83 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Sharon~ 

I say that this could be very good news for real estate professionals who drive around ail over the place in the happy pursuit of their mission to bring joy and comfort and the perfect dwelling to people who often underestimate the number of miles they must travel through the wind and the rain and over muddy roads to bring them the treasure they desire!

THAT being said...I hereby challenge you to  the Welcome as the Flowers in May-
 Gold Star
Your photo essay with your own photos/graphics on this or any other subject you might find intriguing...

I'm smiling!
9:26pm • #7
MAY
11
2007
972,132 Points 247 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Randy said no....I had no clue what my gas water heater was!  I need to learn more.
12:31am • #8
601,535 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog

janeAnne - today there was an article about hydrogen powered cars coming...

Sally - great that you have colleagues to brain pick! 
3:17pm • #9


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Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.) Rainmaker_large

Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Saint Petersburg, FL

More about me…

ALVA International, Inc.

Address: 238 Beach Drive NE, St Petersburg, FL, 33701

Office Phone: (727) 898-2582

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