Natural gas as an interim fix
Almost every car manufacturer has had to "pick a side" when it comes to alternative fuel options, looking for ways to divest from a reliance on regular gas. Mercedes, for instance, has put its money on diesel, while Toyota has taken the hybrid approach, and BMW is banking on hydrogen fuel cells.
Fiat, meanwhile, is looking to back compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquid propane as its interim solution of choice. Cheap and readily available, liquid propane is the same stuff used to power most gas barbecues, and it has natural reserves predicted to last for well over 100 years. It provides 23 percent fewer CO2 emissions compared with gasoline, offers the same performance, and is economically sustainable.
Fiat is looking for ways to maximize the storage of liquid propane on board its vehicles, with the CRF re-examining tank technology to see whether a dual fuel option, including both regular and natural gas, is feasible and cost-efficient. As it turns out, such a system would require very little retrofitting, with very few modifications to the engine needed. As such, it would be cheap, with almost no development costs involved. On the other hand, despite the savings of not having to re-engineer its engines, Fiat would, in a way, be taking a step back, using old technology for a new fuel approach.
There is also a distinct lack of filling stations for natural gas and low incentive for gas-rich markets like the US to use it.
Despite the various pros and cons, one thing remains clear. Fiat does not want to be left behind. “We are providing an evolution of the features of the car and better performance,” said Re Fiorentin, noting the importance of decarbonizing the emissions from cars, improving their safety, and ensuring their affordability.
The center is also actively working with fuel and infrastructure providers, and looking for other interim solutions, with a view to electric cars as an end goal. At the moment, however, Re Fiorentin doesn’t see the electric car as a short-term eventuality.
“The electric car still has some sustainability problems, not from the environmental point of view but from the social and economic point of view, because the ranges are too limited, recharging times are too long, and cost too high,” he said. “The challenge is to remain competitive in a market that has become more and more aggressive. We need very skilled people. People who know a discipline and know how that discipline integrates with others.”
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I know Fiat is a staple in Europe and not so well known in the United States, that is until a year or so ago when they made a concerted effort to get dealerships here and up their advertising (any recall the J. Lo ads?).
There are quite a few fiats cruising around my area and I have to say, the cars are adorable. But as far as driving an alternative vehicle powered on propane gas (the same stuff that runs my BBQ), I'm not so keen. I get nervous sticking the tanks in my car to go get a refill, let alone using the fuel source to fill my car tank. I think the industry would have to spend some time and money educating people like myself to get over the fear of propane as being highly combustible.
CNG has been used on indoor vehicles, like forklifts, for years, but performance under a wide number of operating conditions is not that critical to a forklift. It's safe to say that engineers would have to spend several years learning how to properly burn CNG in an automobile. More than anything else, I wonder about safety. Gasoline is only under pressure after the fuel pump, while CNG would be under pressure during storage and along the entire length of the fuel system. There are some advantages to CNG being a gas rather than a liquid, but the whole system being under pressure is a little disturbing.
CNG vehicles have one of the same problems as pure electric vehicles -- limited range. In terms of available energy, it's tough for anything to compete with gasoline.
I think the statement "There is also a distinct lack of filling stations for natural gas and low incentive for gas-rich markets like the US to use it" says it all. Regardless of which fuel choice an automobile maker wants to gets behind, fuel distribution infrastructure and price (supply and demand) continue to be a large part of the bottom line.
As gas prices go up and consumers continue to demand refueling convenience, the next challenger to gasoline will emerge. Obviously human safetly will play a big part in the selection process, but one of the biggest decision criteria will also be ease of refueling and cost.
Well, Fiat is in a partnership with Chrysler now, which is probably why it's becoming a more well known brand in the US.... expect to see them make a concerted effort!
I wonder what the range is on a small tank that attaches to my grill. The interesting part of moving to a technology like this, is there are already places to go and get this fuel. One has only to go to the local hardware store or in some cases where I live, the local gas stations already carry these little tanks.
I agree there is a need to educate. I too get a little nervous putting a tank in the trunk. I consider myself lucky that I have a pickup truck to go get gas for the lawn mower. But I'm guessing that someone has done a ton of research to insure cars running of natural gas are as safe as any current vehicle. I know forklifts have been running on this stuff for years.
I also like the idea of several different alternative fuels/concepts being developed at the same time.
The question that it also brings is how do you ensure safety after the car has been around the block for a number of years. Are people really going to do the necessary maintence to ensure structural integrity of the tank. I'm thinking, for example, of a bicycle helmet. If it has been used to save your skull, you discard it and buy a new one even if it "looks" OK. A minor fender bender might require a bit more investigation with a high pressure, highly flammable gas.
Also, I could be wrong on this point, but isn't propane heavier than air? Seems that a leak would be more dangerous up front than gasoline, since the vapor (i.e., the flammable part) does seem to dissappate rather quickly.
Beth, I agree with you on the fuel issue. Seems to me I remember a Fiat car when I was a child or maybe I'm wrong. Almost every day I see one of these little cars. Kind of cute but don't think I will be buying one any time soon.
Beth, I understand your concern, but gasoline was a dangerous fuel not so long ago. Remember the burning compact cars of the 70s? I think that the answer lies in design.
In many parts of the world natural gas is used extensively. I would not be terriably concerned about the tanks. I had a business where we had an opportunity to see what would happen if you fired a gun at a propane tank. It did go up, but only with a very well placed shot. I don't know what the actual statistics are from this, but I expect that there are ways to make it safe. I also noticed that there are a number of trucking firms going to this fuel, so we will see it more often.
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