Could natural gas be the future for fleets?

Forget hybrid and electric cars – the future for fleet vehicles is natural gas, according to an independent petroleum industry expert based in Perth, Australia.

Natural gas has numerous benefits in the eyes of Peter Strachan who pinpoints its massive reserves and affordability as reasons to make the change.

He said: “With natural gas (methane) less than a quarter of the price of diesel, there are massive savings to be made.

“For the one-off cost of establishing their own refuelling stations, companies operating long-haul truck fleets could thumb their nose at diesel and petrol prices that are set to go in only one direction – upwards.”

Australia is a particularly strong market for natural gas. There are already significant plants in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria that rely heavily on gas for power generation. In total, Australia is said to be sitting on huge reserves – in the region of 140trillion cubic feet – which are earning the country good money in exports of liquid natural gas (LNG).

However, now Mr Strachan believes a more conscious effort should be made to use natural gas in motor vehicles – particularly trucks and buses used by fleets.

He said: “Providing natural gas as an alternative fuel choice for cars would require an enormous investment in fuelling infrastructure. However it’s not such a big problem for trucks and buses equipped with long-range tanks and access to fuelling depots, where they can use either compressed natural gas or LNG.

“All that’s required to extend the use is the entrepreneurial and political will.”

Do you think natural gas should be taken more seriously as an alternative fuel? Leave your comments here.

Author: Paul, May 22, 2008
Filed under: Fleet management,Fleet news,General interest