A Dallas-based company, AmericaCNG, announced this month that they will be equipping 300 Roady’s Truck Stops with natural gas fueling equipment. This comes on the heels of a recent announcement by Clean Energy Fuels to install natural gas fueling equipment at 250 Pilot and Flying J truck stops nationwide.
The AmericaCNG announcement said that “with truck stops strategically located throughout the U.S. interstate highway system, Roady’s new NGV fueling capabilities will support the rapidly growing trend toward adoption of CNG and LNG as beneficial alternative fuels.”
However, the U.S. was not quick to adapt to the trend. According to AmericaCNG, the U.S. “has been lagging far behind the rest of the world in the deployment of natural gas vehicles,” but thankfully, they say, “that is changing dramatically. Vehicle manufacturers ranging from the automobile sector to the heavy duty sector are rapidly delivering new CNG and LNG powered vehicles.” AmericaCNG goes on to point out the many benefits of NGVs: “It is a well-documented fact that natural gas vehicle fuels are at least 50% less expensive and produce as much as 90% less harmful emissions than gasoline and diesel.” And AmericaCNG says the benefits don’t have to stop there: “Since the U.S. has larger natural gas resources than any other country in the world, the widespread use of NGV fuels can greatly reduce and possibly even eliminate our dependence on foreign oil imports.”
This is good news that deals with the “chicken and egg” problem that has hindered the widespread use of NGVs in the United States. The addition of natural gas fueling stations offers convenience and practically for owners of NGVs. Plus, NGV fuel is 50% less expensive than gasoline and diesel, and is less detrimental to the environment. It is hard to dispute the many positive aspects of NGVs.
