Can a car be converted to run on natural gas?

Question

if so, how much can a tankful of propane last?

Answer 1

Yes. In Canada it is common. If you have to ask the question, you like in a place that has no infrastructure in place to let you fuel the vehicle, so it wouldn't be practical for you. As for a tankful, it depends on the size. You have far less btu's of energy stored in natural gas than gasoline. A conversion gas engine will have less power and less mileage.

Answer 2

Yes it can.  It can also be converted to run on propane (which is not the same thing as natural gas).

Answer 3

I see those CNG (Clean Natural Gas) cars often here in CT. They're usually state vehicles, generally social workers and legislators who drive them. I should ask a few people I know about how long the CNG lasts them.

Answer 4

Natural Gas and Propane refer to 2 different gaseous petrochemical products.

You can convert an internal combustion engine to run on almost any combustible fuel.  In WWII some Germans converted thier cars to run on coal.

It would be more difficult to convert a fuel injected engine than one that uses an older design carbuerator.  But... its still possible.

Answer 5

Yes, it is done all the time! Many businesses that have fleets of vehicles convert them to natural gas because it is cheaper and cleaner than gasoline.  The vehicles last longer and require less maintenance.

In California if you convert your car to run on natural gas you can get decals for your car that permit you to drive in the carpool lane even if you are the only driver. The reason for this is to reward people for converting their cars to run on natural gas because it emits much less pollution than gasoline.

You can also set your car up to run on either natural gas or gasoline with just the flip of a switch on your dashboard. This is very handy when natural gas is not available.

The advantages of natural gas are:

1. It is cheaper than gasoline

2. It is much cleaner than gasoline, it emits much less pollution to the atmosphere

3. Since it is cleaner than gasoline your engine will last much longer and require less maintenance than if you run it on gasoline.

In the Yellow Pages, you can find mechanics in your area who will convert your car to run on natural gas.

Congratulations! Great question!

Answer 6

In a word, Yes.

The trick is finding a place to re-fuel. If the car is to be used locally, then the problem is minimized.

There's a guy in the local town that rigged his (older) car to run on propane.

Rigging a new, computer-controlled car would mean getting into the programming, or getting an new processor, or dumping the digital c**p altogether.

As a practical measure, it's lack of popularity is an indication....

Gaucho

Answer 7

yes. If the standard method is used, the natural gas will run into a chamber, be ignited, heating water, and the steam will turn a turbine which will turn a miniature generator and by using copper wire spin off electrons to run the car on electricity.  As for how long the tank will last, due to the inefficiencies of today's methods, the tank will only last 40.34 miles.  It is possible, but solar seems like the better method.  If a solar panel  gathers heat during the day and uses that energy to make electricity, then the car just has to be plugged in...and it's ready to go.  If you would like to know more about alternative energies, read an eigth grade textbook. Seriously.

Answer 8

I don't know about converting a gas combustible vehecle to natural gas, but they make automobiles that run on natural gas, propane, etc. etc.  

Here is an article about aternative fuel vehicles.  They even have lists of gas filling stations in areas all over the U.S.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/afv/prop...