In quest for a sustainable motorization: the CNG opportunity

Stocchetti, Andrea and Volpato, Giuseppe (2010): In quest for a sustainable motorization: the CNG opportunity. Published in: Int. J. Automotive Technology and Management , Vol. 10, No. 1 : pp. 13-36.

Abstract

This article aims at describing the opportunity deriving from the substitution of conventional fuels, as gasoline and diesel, with the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), frequently indicated as methane. The use of CNG systems in vehicles cannot be considered the ultimate solution to the problem of pollution generated by road transport, but the advantages of this fuel are: a) relevant, as it concerns consumer’s expenses and ecological aspect; b) rapidly achievable, waiting for availability of new technologies capable of more relevant advantages; c) close to hand for several countries: Europe and U.S. and those where the motorization is at the take-off stage, like the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), and others like: Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia and so on. In fact, such countries in take-off stage on the one hand have extensive reserves of methane, and on the other hand need to cut emission urgently, specifically in areas with a high density of population. From the economic point of view CNG results a viable solution with few contraindication. The most important bottleneck is represented by a possible shortage in the distribution network. If a country is crossed by a gas pipeline this shortage could be overcome rapidly and without relevant costs. In the others the solution could be achieved either through gas carriers ships or through local production of biomethane by the exploitation of biomasses.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Sustainable motorization, CNG, car industry, low emission cars
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q5 - Environmental Economics > Q56 - Environment and Development ; Environment and Trade ; Sustainability ; Environmental Accounts and Accounting ; Environmental Equity ; Population Growth; N - Economic History > N7 - Transport, Trade, Energy, Technology, and Other Services; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q0 - General > Q01 - Sustainable Development

References

ACEA - Association des Constructeurs Européen d’Automobile, www.acea.be.

ACI – Automobile Club d’Italia (2008), Annuario Statistico, Roma.

Persson M. et al. (2006), presents a number of cases of production of biogas for motor fuel, and a census of the most significant of biogas plants in the world.

Ahlvik P., Brandberg A. (2001), Well-to-Wheel Efficiency for alternative fuels from natural gas biomass, Swedish National Road Administration.

Air Resources Board - ARB. (2002), Study of CNG and diesel transit bus emissions. Air Resources Board, California Environmental Protection Agency.

AT&T (2009), AT&T to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles, www.att.com/public- policy.

CSST (2001), Metano e qualità dell’aria nel sistema della mobilità, Torino.

CNR (2007), Benefici ambientali del metano per autotrazione (research report).

EEA (2008), Greenhouse gas emission trends and projections in Europe.

EIA (2008), Annual Energy Outlook 2009, EIA- Energy Information Administration, http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/nat_gas.html (last check: march 8th, 2009).

EU (2007a), Report on the progress made in the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels in the Member States of the European Union, COM (2006) 845 Final.

EU (2007b), Well-To-Tank Report, Version 2c, March.

Evans R.J. (2008), Hybrid Natural gas and Renewable Energy System and the Transition to the Hydrogen Economy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, International Gas Union Research Conference, Paris.

European Federation for Transport & Environment (2008a), Reducing CO2 Emissions from New Cars: A Study of Major Car Manufacturers’ Progress.

European Federation for Transport and Environment (2008b), Briefing 18 June.

Exxon (2009), “É arrivato in Italia il terminale di rigassificazione Adriatic LNG”, Argomenti Esso, Roma.

FAO (2008), The State of Food and Agricolture. Biofuels: Prospects, risks and opportunities, Food and Agricolture Organization of the United Nations.

Gas Research Institute (1987), Environmental benefits of CNG-fueled vehicles – Topical Report, GRI, Chicago;

Gerini A., Novella P., Ziosi M., Cornetti G. (2009), Potential Perspective on Natural Gas and Biomethane propulsion, forthcoming.

IEFE (2007), Policy lessons from promotion of natural gas in Italy, November, Milan.

IFP – Institut Français du Petrole, www.ifp.fr.

IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, www.ipcc.ch

International Gas Union - IGU, (2005), Global Opportunities for Natural Gas as a Transportation Fuel for Today and Tomorrow.

JRC, (2006), Well-to-Wheels analysis of future automotive fuels and powertrains in the European context, http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/WTW.

Liew C.J., Liew C.K. (1995), “The Use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in motor vehicles and its effect on employment and air quality”, The Annals of Regional Science, 29, pp.315-334;

NGVA Europe (2009), CNG trucks in urban garbage collection. The successful case of FCC fleet in Madrid.

Nomisma Energia (2008), I biocarburanti in Italia – Opportunità e costi , Unione Petrolifera, Roma.

Nylund N-O., Erkkilä K., Lappi M., Ikonen M. (2004), Transit Bus Emission Study: Comparison of Emissions from Diesel and Natural Gas Buses, VTT Processes, Helsinky.

Onufrio G. (2005), “Aspetti ambientali del ciclo del gas naturale” (Environmental aspects of natural gas cycle), presented at Riprendere la strada per Kyoto: il ruolo del gas naturale, ISSI – Istituto Sviluppo Sostenibile Italia, Rome, 6-07-2005.

Persson M., Jönson O., Wellinger A. (2006), Biogas Upgrading to Vehicle Fuel Standards and Grid Injection, IEA Bioenergy.

Rajagopal D., Sexton S.E., Roland-Host D., Zilberman D. (2007), “Challenge of biofuel: filling the tank without empty stomach?”, Environmental Research Letters, n.2, 30 november.

Seifert M. (2008), Biomass-Biogas, The Potential for Europe, International Gas Union Research Conference, Paris.

Senauer B. (2008), “Food Market Effects of a Global Resource Shift Towards bioenergy”, American Journal of Agricoltural Economics, 90 (5), pp.1226-1232.

United Nations (2003), Blue corridor project on the use of natural gas as a motor fuel in international freight and passenger traffic, New York.

Urban R,. (2003), “Il dilemma del trasporto del Gas naturale”, La Termotecnica, December. US Department of Energy (1988), Assesment of costs and benefits of flexible and alternative fuel use in the U.S. Transportation sector, Washington. VDI – Association of German Engineers, www.vdi.de.

Wolf F.(2008), Bionatural Gas, Production transportation and Utilisation, International Gas Union Research Conference, Paris.