Why aren't natural gas cars more readily available?

Question

You can only buy natural gas cars in Cal. and New York. What about the rest of the country?

Answer 1

for the same reason that a lot of alternative fueled cars are not readily available, the lack of infrastructure needed to support the operation of the vehicles. municipalities have fueling stations set up to refuel cng powered vehicles, but they are not available to the general public.

but there is a catch 22 situation here, since the infrastructure is not available, the people wont buy the cars, so the automakers wont build the cars, and no one will build the infrastructure until the cars are available for sale, which wont happen until the infrastructure is built, etc. etc. etc.

Answer 2

you can buy them anywhere in the U.S. but its inconvenient finding the few refueling stations in most places. most large city's have commercial fleet vehicles that run on natural gas.

its pretty common for the gas company's to run their cars on it naturally.

places like salt lake city that have an abundance of natural gas have been in yahoo news in the last couple of weeks because they've been selling it for less than 1/3 the cost of gasoline.

incidentally geologically obtained natural gas is usually considered a fossil fuel the same as oil.

Answer 3

Where would you refuel them?

Answer 4

Natural gas does not compress,so the tanks are very large for a good range.

Answer 5

BECAUSE NATURAL; GAS PRICES ARE AS HIGH AS UNLEADED GAS , BUT ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN UNLEADED CARS.

Answer 6

Because they're inconvenient.  They cost slightly more than hybrids, and you can only refuel them at home.  Plus you have to lease the equipment to hook up to your natural gas line at home, so that's yet another added cost.

Hybrids are just as environmentally friendly, cost less, and are more convenient.

Answer 7

I've actually seen CNG cars around here in CT too, most of them state vehicles.

Most people outside wealthy states can't yet afford the technology.

Answer 8

Propane vehicles are somewhat common for fleets and taxis.  Natural gas requires a bunch of extra equiptment.