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GasBuddy News Article

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Natural gas vehicles get a second look

USA Today -- As America finds more reserves of natural gas, the auto industry is sure to take notice.

Natural gas got a strong vote of confidence as a future vehicle fuel at the Society of Automotive Analysts Strategic Planning Summit in Southfield, Mich., last week.

New methods of extracting the gas are one of the biggest changes affecting the auto industry in years, General Motors chief economist Mustafa Mohatarem said.

"The U. S. now has a 100-year supply of natural gas," he said. "I'd make a bet it's the next big transportation fuel. The price is so much lower than gasoline -- people will find a way to use it."

The idea got a second from John Casesa, senior managing director of investment banking at Guggenheim Partners. "We're also very high on natural gas," he said. "It's a massive change ...


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Submitted Sep 17, 2012 By: BurntOrange
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REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 22, 2012 12:40:21 AM

when there's more demand, we'll see prices rise.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 20, 2012 10:06:55 PM

price is lower right now. Oil used to be lower too.
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heydano67
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 10:03:33 AM

nice to have the option
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MusicalMan7
All-Star Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Sep 19, 2012 8:13:15 AM

Make love, not war.
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Hobby001
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 18, 2012 5:12:37 AM

Convert homes, not cars.
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nb52
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Sep 18, 2012 4:36:33 AM

Test market this first.
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335d1
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Sep 18, 2012 2:05:39 AM

Let's get some CNG infrastructure going.
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us4usa
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:45:26 PM

Big oil and Big corn will stop NGVs, no corn water in NG...
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RBob
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:20:14 PM

Sounds good. Maybe some one like UPS or FedEx or the USPS could convert their fleets.

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FortVancouver01
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:08:26 PM


The more options the better. Might also make it easier to break up the big oil monopoly if they don't get total control of that fuel too.

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boatfloyd
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:08:08 PM

How about a hybrid: Natural Gas Electic.
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radiorumor
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:07:34 PM

This is taking too long, maybe big oil doesn’t want to re-tool
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:07:10 PM

Who controls the price of gas, @libertyut? The more people that switch away from gasoline means the lower the demand for it and therefore the lower the price.
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rahcat
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:07:07 PM

Go CNG
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purplebears
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:05:37 PM

It simply makes sense to move forward towards the use of natural gas or electric vehicles. Most residential properties already have either natural gas, electricity or both already piped or wired to the buildings. In most cases, contractors could extend the natural gas lines/electric chargers to garages or parking structures for nominal costs. The convenience of refueling your vehicle at home would become the new normal thing to do.

The downside would be the loss of many gas stations and convenience stores. But in reality is that really a loss?
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:04:49 PM

I hear what you're saying, @EVBuddy, but at least CNG is an improvement over gasoline and diesel from a pollution standpoint. CNG is so clean that its carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide emissions don't even register during tests.

That being said, CNG should be used as a bridge to a renewable energy future.
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bababooey2
Champion Author Hartford

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:03:15 PM

About time.
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NoStrings
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:02:21 PM

ok
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 10:01:58 PM

Expect CNG to become widespread before hydrogen does, @MusicalMan7. Most of the hydrogen is already produced by steam reforming of natural gas. Plus, CNG powered engines are less expensive to produce than current generation fuel cells.

Also CNG requires lower pressure storage tanks than those used to store hydrogen so those tanks are less expensive as well.

That being said, CNG may bring hydrogen further down the development highway as any improvements in CNG will also improve the use of hydrogen.
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EVBuddy
Champion Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:58:49 PM

NG doesn't deserve a second look. It is just another limited fossil fuel
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:57:18 PM

If that's true, @Jeeputtputt, then how much gas does Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have?
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Mikeyl
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:56:06 PM

Bring it on.
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trolsen
Rookie Author Utah

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:55:51 PM

I'll go for CNG
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:55:37 PM

Don't be so sure of that, @MDTDriver. The world is using more and more oil every year.

Heck, 1.2 billion Chinese and another 1 billion Indians all want cars.
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bobdec
Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:52:35 PM

I think that NG will be one of the cars of the future
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clermont40miles
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:52:00 PM

Look all you want but without infrastructure making fuel readily available and affordable, it will go nowhere.

I'm all for it. Bring on the pumps and keep it all safe.
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mlmeng
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:50:28 PM

I would not mind owning a natural gas vehicle.
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SavALot
Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:50:25 PM

Any safe alternative should be considered
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snakebitef22
Veteran Author Corpus Christi

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:48:31 PM

Mexico has converted big trucks and pick ups to run on gas for years ,we had a pick up with a 60 gallon tanks ran for a month.....
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texasvet
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:47:28 PM

And for those who think that it's a long time down the road, Shell has already committed to providing CNG fueling capability at their stations.
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carloco75
Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:46:18 PM

Again...
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texasvet
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:46:11 PM

CNG is the immediate future. It's cheap, readily available in quantity, and it can be used in literally any type of engine. Try flying aircraft on coal or electricity.
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Blue48
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:44:17 PM

TIME WILL TELL!
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MDTDriver
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:42:32 PM

And oil will be for longer than that.
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Aviator_Rob
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:38:51 PM

The market will determine if CNG has a place on the road.

Of course, that's if Big Oil doesn't block its introduction.
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Vetteblu
Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:38:27 PM

It just goes on & on.
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jrsva
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:37:51 PM

“So far, the biggest interest is among companies that operate fleets and can centrally fuel natural gas vehicles, not consumers. Long-haul trucking might be the first field to make widespread use of the fuel. . . .”

I fully agree with these conclusions. NG for private cars is quite some way in the future due to the need for construction of extensive fueling facilities.

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faulkc05
All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:37:34 PM

The 100-year supply will soon turn to a 5 year supply if it's implemented and if people would want to run their vehicles on it without fear of explosion, because demand would be higher.
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acknot
Champion Author Seattle

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:35:25 PM

Then what are we waiting for?
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Marson
Champion Author Scranton

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:31:08 PM

The move to N gas is coming on strong. It will continue to grow.
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MusicalMan7
All-Star Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:30:18 PM

When are Hydrogen Fuel Cell vehicles gonna get a second look?
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tidalwave3
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:29:33 PM

THIS IS AN IDEA THAT IS A WIN-WIN :)
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bonzoonfmb
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:28:05 PM

We need to utilize all the forms of fuel that we have. Natural gas is not a panacea. The more demand there is for it and the more that it is utilized for any purpose means that it will go up in price until it balances out with other forms of energy.

John Casesa, senior managing director of investment banking at Guggenheim Partners. "We're also very high on natural gas," he said. - You are doing it wrong.
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after10
Veteran Author Hamilton

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:26:46 PM

Great .Fuel up with natural from our homes.Lets do it.
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libertyut
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:24:14 PM

You people crack me up. You want your electric or natural gas car. But you can't sell it. Like the Chev Volt, you can't sell it so now there advertising it saying it is more of a car then an electric. Get real people lower the price of gas.
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ot4kidz
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:23:03 PM

They're (NG vehicles) have been around for years. No one seems to really want to move forward with this.
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mstearno
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:22:48 PM

as they should
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nwsynthetics
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:21:46 PM

Thanks
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brutherruther
Veteran Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:21:31 PM

Ok
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wayoung56
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Sep 17, 2012 9:19:34 PM

Interesting article...
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