Compressed Natural Gas car - Page 2

Clodfobble · 07-30-2008, 02:46 PM

Interesting. I'm assuming that after the initial appliance cost, the gas itself costs basically the same, coming from the utility company rather than whoever runs the natural gas station?

glatt · 07-30-2008, 02:57 PM

I believe that's correct. Can't see why it wouldn't be.

If you are interested in a CNG car, you don't have to buy a used one on e-bay. Honda sells them brand new to consumers. The Honda Civic GX is only $25k brand new.

So for around $30k, anybody with natural gas at home can drive one of these and fill it at home.

HungLikeJesus · 07-30-2008, 03:00 PM

I wonder how much electricity it takes to compress the gas to 3600 psi. You'd have to consider that cost, also.

glatt · 07-30-2008, 03:06 PM

True. I didn't read barefoot's link, but I understand they run all night long. I bet it's about the same as having a refrigerator running its compressor all night long.

barefoot serpent · 07-30-2008, 03:46 PM

from the MyPhill faq:

Quote:

At 800 watts, Phill uses less electricity than most small kitchen appliances.

glatt · 07-30-2008, 04:12 PM

According to that FAQ,

It takes 4 hours at 800 watts to compress enough natural gas to go 50 miles. A lot of people commute 50 miles round trip each day, so you would have to run this almost every night. That's around 1000 hours a year. And Phill is designed to last for 6000 hour of operation. So it will only last 6 years.

800 watts time 1000 hours a year is 800 kilowatt hours. The average cost of a kilowatt hour is 9 cents. So this will cost $70 a year to run plus the $600 or so per year of amortizing the cost of Phill.

So we are talking about using $670 a year to use Phill. YMMV.

richlevy · 07-31-2008, 08:25 PM

This is a cool link, It provides a map of alternative energy fueling stations. The only downside I see is that I'm not sure if it distinguishes between private and public access. For CNG it listed PECO and high schools near my area.

07-30-2008, 02:46 PM	#16
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Interesting. I'm assuming that after the initial appliance cost, the gas itself costs basically the same, coming from the utility company rather than whoever runs the natural gas station? __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

07-30-2008, 03:00 PM	#18
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I wonder how much electricity it takes to compress the gas to 3600 psi. You'd have to consider that cost, also. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

07-31-2008, 08:25 PM	#22
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	This is a cool link, It provides a map of alternative energy fueling stations. The only downside I see is that I'm not sure if it distinguishes between private and public access. For CNG it listed PECO and high schools near my area. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

07-30-2008, 02:57 PM	#17
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I believe that's correct. Can't see why it wouldn't be. If you are interested in a CNG car, you don't have to buy a used one on e-bay. Honda sells them brand new to consumers. The Honda Civic GX is only $25k brand new. So for around $30k, anybody with natural gas at home can drive one of these and fill it at home.

07-30-2008, 03:06 PM	#19
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	True. I didn't read barefoot's link, but I understand they run all night long. I bet it's about the same as having a refrigerator running its compressor all night long.

07-30-2008, 04:12 PM	#21
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	According to that FAQ, It takes 4 hours at 800 watts to compress enough natural gas to go 50 miles. A lot of people commute 50 miles round trip each day, so you would have to run this almost every night. That's around 1000 hours a year. And Phill is designed to last for 6000 hour of operation. So it will only last 6 years. 800 watts time 1000 hours a year is 800 kilowatt hours. The average cost of a kilowatt hour is 9 cents. So this will cost $70 a year to run plus the $600 or so per year of amortizing the cost of Phill. So we are talking about using $670 a year to use Phill. YMMV.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)