OEM CNG vehicles

Did you know that major auto manufacturer's make vehicles that run on compressed natural gas (CNG)? I have previously written about the Pickens Plan on this blog and how their goal is to convert most of the US fleet to CNG. Today, CNG is abundant and relatively inexpensive in the United States (less than 1 dollar per gallon in Utah), which is in sharp opposition to crude oil and gasoline that we need to import. Furthermore, burning CNG in an internal combustion engine is drastically cleaner than burning gasoline. It is so much cleaner that California will give you HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) status for driving a CNG vehicle.

Here are some examples of CNG burning automobiles:

-- The Honda Cixic GX:
-- The Chevy Cavalier CNG bi-fuel vehicle
-- The Chevy Suburban/Silverado 2500 vehicles
-- The Ford Contour CNG bi-fuel
-- The Ford 150 truck
-- the Ford Excursion

You can see these for sale at various websites which I will list below. These vehicles are made by the auto manufacturers and then sold to fleets but not to you and I. The only exception is the Honda Civic GX, which is a great car. My question is, "Why can't I walk into my local Chevy dealer and buy a new Chevy Cavalier CNG bi-fuel vehicle?" I can buy one used after the fleet is finished with it, but not when the car is new.

If we had more of these vehicles for sale and more stations that sold CNG at the pump, we could march ever onwards towards living oil free.

CNG Cars for Sale
Morris Auto Sales
US Government Fleet Auctions

The Pickens Plan

One of my goals for this blog is to consider the means by which the citizens of these United States can kick their addiction to foreign oil. Well, in case you have not heard, there is a southern gentleman by the name of T. Boone Pickens who has a plan.

Pickens is a self made billionaire who made his fortune in oil, of all things, but now is on a crusade to free us from it's bondage. T. Boone has a well thought out plan and is spending a great deal of his own wealth in proving its merits and promoting it nationwide. He has aired commercials, been on talk shows and even been featured on 60 Minutes as he campaigns for his cause.

Here are some of his plan's highlights:

- 700 billion dollars a year leaves the US to pay for foreign oil.
- The US has an abundance of natural gas that could be used to power our automobiles. (only one production vehicle is available today, the Honda Civic GX).
- The middle of our nation is a "natural" wind corridor that would be perfect for windmill generated power.
- Solar power needs to be expanded in in the Southwest.

I couldn't agree more. This man is an inspiration for us all and obviously willing to put his money where his mouth is. Have a look at his website and then sign on if you agree!

http://www.pickensplan.com/