What is natural gas (CNG)?
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Vehicle and Fuel Availability

Several manufacturers offer vehicles that run on natural gas. Conventional gasoline vehicles can also be converted to natural gas. Either way, the premium paid can be offset by the lower price of natural gas compared with gasoline. There are about 25 000 natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in Canada.

Factory-built vehicles

There is a range of medium- and heavy-duty natural gas engine offerings available from manufacturers for refuse, transit and shuttle bus applications. The benefit of buying a natural gas vehicle straight from the manufacturer is that the fuel system, ignition control, emissions system, on-board diagnostic system and even parts of the engine will be optimized for natural gas use. This helps reduce emissions and improve fuel economy, driveability and horsepower.

New liquid natural gas (LNG) technologies are currently being developed for heavy-duty trucks.

After-market conversions

It costs about $6,000 to convert a vehicle to natural gas, depending on the number of storage cylinders in the vehicle. Your local natural gas company can provide information on different brands of equipment and on equipment providers and installers in your area. The cylinders for natural gas are added in the trunk or under the chassis of some vans and trucks, or in the back of vans or sport utility vehicles.

You may also be eligible for provincial/territorial government rebates and incentives that reduce the cost of buying or converting to a natural gas vehicle. For details, contact your local natural gas utility.

Fuel and refuelling

For the service stations that sell natural gas closest to you, visit the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance's(CNGVA's) Web site or contact your nearest CNGVA member.

Because it is less expensive than gasoline, natural gas is used as a transportation fuel mainly by high-use vehicles, such as taxis, buses and fleet cars. Natural gas is sold in kilograms at retail sites and in cubic metres or gigajoules at on-site locations. Most retail stations also post the gasoline-equivalent price (litre-gasoline equivalent, or LGE).

Refuel at home or at work

Natural gas users can also take advantage of on-site refuelling units located at a place of business or right at home. The refuelling units, known as vehicle refuelling appliances (VRAs), are certified natural gas compressors. There are several VRA system configurations available for use in commercial and residential applications. Natural gas vehicles can be refuelled overnight with a time-fill system, or in two to three minutes with a fast-fill system.