Natural Gas Pros and Cons

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation sector alone is responsible for nearly 30% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. While most of these emissions are from light-duty vehicles, medium- and heavy-duty vans and trucks produce almost a quarter.

Regardless of the exact details, one thing is obvious — transportation and logistics companies must make more progressive commitments to combat the climate crisis. Alternative fuels like natural gas are in a perfect position to become crucial to many of these green initiatives.

Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of using natural gas can help you determine whether switching to alternative fuels makes sense for your fleet.

What Is Natural Gas?

Natural gas is a fossil fuel made from the remains of plants and animals transformed over millions of years by heat and pressure. It has a high methane content, which is why it is also known as biomethane. It also contains a mixture of natural gas liquids, which include hydrocarbons such as propane, butane, and ethane.

There are several different classifications of natural gas based on location.

• Conventional: Natural gas that collects in the large cracks between rock layers is conventional natural gas. Companies use traditional drilling processes to collect it.
• Unconventional: Also known as shale gas, unconventional natural gas occupies the tinyl pores within sandstone and shale rock formations. It was virtually impossible to access until the development of hydraulic fracturing, aka fracking.
• Associated: A byproduct of crude oil processing, associated natural gas occurs near oil deposits. It typically contains more natural gas liquids than non-associated natural gas, so processing is usually different.
• Coalbed methane: Though this natural gas comes from coal deposits, it is still a relatively clean-burning fuel with various potential applications.

After processing, natural gas can come in one of two forms.

• Compressed: Compressed natural gas is under so much pressure that it takes up less than 1% of its typical volume. It is suitable for various applications, from light passenger vehicles to heavy-duty trucking.
• Liquefied: Liquefied natural gas is a heavy-duty fuel stored cryogenically in your vehicle’s fuel tank. It has a much higher energy density than CNG, making it suitable for more demanding vehicles like semitrucks and vans.

Is Natural Gas Renewable?

Standard natural gas is a fossil fuel, which is not a renewable resource. However, renewable natural gas — made from organic feedstocks — is.

RNG is an alternative fuel produced when organic matter breaks down, which is why it is also known as biomethane. It can come from a wide range of sources, including:

• Livestock farming
• Wastewater treatment facilities
• Landfills

RNG must undergo extensive processing to meet stringent purity standards before it is suitable for use. In its raw form, RNG contains between 45% to 65% methane — processing removes excess moisture and other contaminants, creating a product with a methane content between 96% and 98%.

RNG is safe to use in any natural gas engine, providing more flexibility for companies looking to become more sustainable.

How Do Natural Gas Engines Work?

Natural gas vehicles work much like cars and trucks fueled by standard gasoline:

1. The fuel travels from the vehicle’s tank to the engine.
2. If the vehicle uses CNG, the pressure regulator in the fuel line depressurizes the gas to make it compatible with the fuel injection system.
3. If the vehicle uses LNG, the supercooled liquid gas flows uninterrupted through the fuel lines.
4. The fuel enters the intake manifold and combustion chamber, where it mixes with air and gets ignited by the spark plug.
5. The process repeats.

Because their inner workings are so similar, you can convert a standard vehicle engine to run on natural gas. It is a costly process, though — only an EPA-certified qualified service retrofitter can legally do this work, and their services can cost thousands.

Lower maintenance and long-term costs may offset this high upfront investment, but it can still be a limiting factor for many companies looking to go green.

Are Natural Gas Engines Good?

Though the automotive industry has turned more toward electric vehicles in recent years, experts believe NGVs might also dramatically reduce GHG emissions. NGVs are quieter, cleaner, and more cost-efficient than most gas-powered vehicles — renewable natural gas could even be carbon-negative.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LNG is best for high-mileage applications requiring heavy-duty vehicles, such as public transportation, refuse trucks, and even off-road driving.

Pros of Natural Gas Engines

Here are some of the most significant natural gas benefits for companies and the planet.

• Cost-effective: Though prices fluctuate based on external economic factors, natural gas typically costs less than either gasoline and diesel.
• High performance: Natural gas has a higher octane rating than even premium gasoline, so NGVs can provide similar horsepower ratings to cars powered by traditional fossil fuels.
• Less noise: A standard natural gas engine produces dramatically less noise than its diesel- or gasoline-powered counterpart. Still, EVs are much quieter than most NGVs.
• Reduced emissions: Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels, making it a more environmentally friendly option.

Cons of Natural Gas Engines

Though RNG has promise as a renewable resource, there are a few drawbacks to using natural gas engines.

• Lack of infrastructure: While the U.S. has more than 100,000 gas stations, only about 1% of them offer natural gas — and CNG is usually the only option. Energy companies have recently stepped up to address the problem, but it is unclear when they will find a viable solution.
• Lower fuel efficiency: Typically, NGVs that use CNG have a shorter driving range than standard gas or diesel vehicles because of the fuel’s low energy density. LNG-powered vehicles can take much longer trips, but the limited infrastructure restricts their potential.

Ultimately, the potential environmental benefits of using natural gas far outweigh the cons. Whether it suits your company depends on your specific needs, though.

Purchase Natural Gas in Bulk From SC Fuels

Now that you understand the pros and cons of natural gas, you have all the information to decide what is best for your company. Whatever fuel you need, you can count on SC Fuels to help you.

As a third-generation, family owned and -operated company in business since 1930, we pride ourselves on safely delivering high-quality renewable fuel products to customers throughout the United States. Contact us today for more information about how we can help your company go green.