Does the size and added weight of the cylinders inhibit conversion of vehicles to use natural gas?
All the alternative fuels — natural gas, LPG, electricity and alcohols — suffer from problems associated with fuel storage size and weight. For NGVs, the size of the cylinder is a factor in the conversion process. Installation of the cylinders in autos with severely restrictive truck space does inhibit conversion. Added weight also is a factor, particularly where vehicle carriage weight is a concern such as on transit buses and refuse lorries. (In some countries the vehicle tax is based upon weight, and this is an added disadvantage.) But there are many options to installing cylinders and the industry is gaining valuable field experience that is leading to improved placement of cylinders in vehicles. Development of \’cylinder packs\’ to fit beneath the vehicle also have resulted in improvements of the on-board storage system. Conversion of large automobiles, speciality vans, trucks, forklifts and many other vehicles are not hampered because of cylinder size. LNG also is used to incre
