The Cleanest Cars on Earth?: Honda Civic GX and Other Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs)
Clean Burning Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) are hot commodities in some parts of the country, where fuel can sell for as low as $0.63 per gallon.
Unlike the world’s most fuel efficient car (VW’s 285 MPG bullet), the Honda Civic GX looks like a standard passenger vehicle. What makes it special is what you don’t see: tailpipe emissions that are often cleaner than ambient air.
The Civic GX is powered by compressed natural gas—methane—the simplest and cleanest-burning hydrocarbon available. With an economical 113-hp, 1.8-Liter engine, the EPA has called the Civic the “world’s cleanest internal-combustion vehicle” with 90% cleaner emissions than the average gasoline-powered car on the road in 2004.
And get this: in Utah, natural gas can be purchased for $0.63 per gallon.
- » See also: Roush Bringing Propane-Powered Mustangs To Drag Strips
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At $24,590, buying a new Civic GX won’t exactly break your bank account, especially since up to $7,000 will come back to you in the form of state and federal tax credits. But don’t expect to find one easily. The car is only sold in two states, New York and California, and Honda can’t build them fast enough. One dealership said they have over 80 people waiting to buy.
In 1983 - 1985 I owned an Ford F 100 pickup which was able to run on gasoline or natrual gas. The natrual gas burned much much cleaner than did the gasoline, which was proved when we tore down the engine to see the differnce between the natrual gas and gasoline. As it turns out everything lasts longer; things like spark plugs, pistons and rings and the like. I’m ready to convert my pickup now. How do I do it? I had the eighty gallon plus the twenty gallon gas tank…so it was nice to go on trips and go over a thousand miles before refueling.
You’re all wet
What is the mileage for these NGV’s? I’ll drive to NY if need be to buy one. Thank you!
I believe Hydrogen is the best way to stop the independance on foreign oil. Water is plentiful.
New houses are required to use an airrator septic system and they spray the treated water on the yard. This water could be pumped into tanks and used as a fual for hybrid hydrogen cars.
Is propane a clean burning fual?
I am still trying to figure out what the mpg would be using cng? Or how often u would have to fill up?
Fossil fuels of all types, it seems, are not the answer. Yes, they may buy us some time, but we need something that is completely renewable, self cleaning, and can be produced privately, not only corporately.
The french already have cars that run on compressed air, and the Italians have a highly efficient compressed air rotary engine.
This just seems to be a ‘no-brainer’ option for a simple drive to work and back. Not to mention an answer for the less efficient portion of the average automobile, regardless of what fossil fuel it runs on.
mpg for the civic gx (2008) is 24 city, 36 hwy.
that’s from honda’s website per epa.
not THAT great, even if it is clean(er) and cheap(er).
I have a H2, car. Please, come see it!
John M. Brazil
Apt. 605
1655 Winchester Blvd.
Campbell, Ca 95008
408-369-9922
what the hell is this rubbish about IMPORTING of natural gas!!!
our own poop, or our cows/chickens can happily supply the necessary fecal matter to be cheaply converted into methane.
A quick google search will show you a number of methane -powered vehicles, which can be done with very basic technology.
Why is the industry so stupid? why can’t we stop making our enemies rich?
look up Jay Leno’s article about his 100 year old electric cars. What the hell do we have to do to force our politicians to actually USE the clean technology which is ALREADY HERE FOR THE PAST 100 YEARS !!!!!!