There are two different forms of natural gas that can be used as a fuel for vehicles. These two fuel types are:
LNG fuel systems are best suited for medium and heavy duty applications. This fuel is produced by super-cooling purified natural gas to -260°F in order to turn it into a liquid. This liquid must be maintained at a very cold temperature so it is stored in double-walled, vacuum-insulated pressure vessels. LNG vehicles are more suited for long range travel than CNG vehicles.
CNG is typically used in light, medium and heavy duty applications. These vehicles have about the same fuel economy as a traditional gasoline vehicle but the range for most dedicated CNG vehicles is less than most gasoline or diesel vehicles. CNG is stored in cylinders with a pressure of 3,000 to 3,600 pounds per square inch.
Use the Alternative Fuels Data Center’s Station Locator to find public natural gas stations in Long Beach.
*Locations are subject to change, so we recommend calling the stations to verify location, hours of operation, and access.
Natural gas vehicles can easily be fueled at public stations or on-site refueling can be built. Individual home compressors use a slow-fill system for overnight refueling. A small compressor would usually be located in a home’s garage area and would be connected directly to the natural gas supply in the house. In heavy-duty applications, the cost of a high capacity fast-fill private or public station ranges from $200,000 to as much as $3 million.
The future holds great potential for natural gas because it can potentially be used in fuel cell vehicles to make hydrogen. Researchers have found that fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas could present an attractive solution for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Fast fill stations are used ideally for retail situations where light-duty vehicles can fill up quickly at random intervals. The required infrastructure for this station only takes up as much space as a parking space. Fuel for this station is provided by a local utility line at a low pressure and the compressor on site creates a high pressure gas that can be used in these vehicles. Drivers filling up at a fast fill station experience similar fill times to gasoline fueling stations—less than 5 minutes for a 20 gallon equivalent tank. Drivers use a dispenser to transfer CNG into the tank. The dispenser uses sensors to calculate pressure and measure the number of GGEs delivered to the tank, taking temperature into account.
Fast fill stations are used ideally for retail situations where light-duty vehicles can fill up quickly at random intervals. The required infrastructure for this station only takes up as much space as a parking space. Fuel for this station is provided by a local utility line at a low pressure and the compressor on site creates a high pressure gas that can be used in these vehicles. Drivers filling up at a fast fill station experience similar fill times to gasoline fueling stations—less than 5 minutes for a 20 gallon equivalent tank. Drivers use a dispenser to transfer CNG into the tank. The dispenser uses sensors to calculate pressure and measure the number of GGEs delivered to the tank, taking temperature into account.
There are three types of natural gas vehicles:
One of the major benefits of using natural gas vehicles is that users experience no differences in horsepower, acceleration, or cruise speed in comparison to a traditional gasoline powered vehicle.
The image shows how natural gas vehicles that use CNG work. First, CNG enters the car through the natural gas fill valve (A). The gas entered high-pressure cylinders (B) and as natural gas is needed to power the vehicle, it travels through the master manual shut-off valve (C). This valve connects to the high-pressure fuel line (D) and enters the engine compartment. The pressure of the gas is then decreased as it enters the regulator (E) and passes through the solenoid valve (F). The solenoid valve shuts off when the engine is no longer running. Finally, the gas flows through the carburetor or fuel-injection system (G) and enters combustion chambers where it can be burned to produce power, like regular gasoline.
