Propane (Autogas) vs. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by Brooke

A debate between these two very appealing and viable alternative fuels are steadily seen and heard about in the news and on social networking sites.  Questions arise like, “Which one is cheaper,” “Which is more efficient,” or “Which is more environmentally friendly.”

Both fuels are greener and more cost effective than gasoline and diesel however; propane is frequently viewed as the more likable alternative fuel due to its attractive price point, availability and storage benefits.  It is important for customers to examine the benefits of both options and determine which fuel is the best fit for their fleet.

For now, here are a few important factors provided by CleanFUEL USA to consider when comparing propane to CNG:

• CNG refueling stations can cost up to 10 times more to implement than a propane station. The environmental footprint of a CNG station is 10 times greater than a propane station based on the electricity required to store and pump the fuel.
• CNG storage tanks are required to be four times as large as propane tanks, while the operating pressure of a CNG tank is 17 times the pressure of a propane tank.
• The CNG storage size combined with the extreme pressure requires more space and fuel to transport than propane. Heavier storage tanks also contribute to greater pressure and demands on vehicles, which increases maintenance costs.
• The pressure involved in CNG storage also places a limit on how much fuel can be injected into a vehicle during one given time, creating a time-intensive refueling process for the vehicle owner.
• The cost of converting a vehicle to run on CNG is 50 percent more than the cost of converting a vehicle to propane.
• CNG is methane, a greenhouse gas, as opposed to propane, which is not a greenhouse gas when released directly into the atmosphere.

– See more at: http://blogs.rrc.state.tx.us/TPF/?p=2021#sthash.jbhgWZXu.dpuf

This post pasted from Texas Railroad Commission Alternative Fleet Fuel Blog.