CNG Conversion Kits and Their Vehicles

Comment

Comment by David Smith on August 17, 2008 at 4:40pm

No one here wants to skirt safety issues only remove unjustified regulations. Proper instillation is necessary; I just do not understand why only fleets should be considered. The technology surrounding natural gas for vehicle use has been around a long time. Most fleet operators do not want to see the regulations change because the lucrative grants they depend on will disappear. Once the 100,000.00 per certification is removed, the competition in the NGV market will grow quickly. The large organizations now installing fleets will face massive competition and that is good for our economy.

If natural gas is good enough to save money for governmental organizations, I think it is good enough for the American citizen. The rest of the world including Europe is on a path of development to convert to natural gas with The Blue Corridor.

THE BLUE CORRIDOR - ECONOMIC AND ENVIROMENTAL MODEL

EXCERPT
There is presently a wide range of subsidies for the erection of natural gas filling stations, for both private fleet and public use. There is also a wide range of incentives for buying new gas vehicles. These go in parallel with the traffic restrictions for which gas vehicles are exempt.
http://www.imtt.pt/sites/IMTT/CentroDocumentacao/RepertorioDocumental/Estudos/Documents/Clean%20air%20power.pdf

It seems Americans will be put behind the eight ball again if we do not at least follow Europe’s lead. We can not leave the American citizen hanging once again while Europe changes their infrastructure. This is just my simple opinion.

Comment by Janice L Stephenson on August 17, 2008 at 1:51pm

Can any car be converted? I have a Subaru Forester. Of course I would have to find out where and from who the cng is available here in the high desert. Might well be worth it though. Does it boost mileage or does it just keep the air cleaner?

Comment by Gerald G Flood on August 17, 2008 at 1:40pm

I would strongly suggest, having converted over 350 vehicles to either CNG or LPG, that you familiarize yourself with NFPA Standard 52 which specifies the correct safety requirements of doing a CNG conversion. If not then Darwin's theory of evolution of the fittest will be enforced.
Until, and unless low pressure ADSORBENT technology
becomes available, conversions to CNG properly belongs to fleet vehicles which have a limited radius and return to base each night.
Yes, you can do "an old 86 chevy silverado sitting in my shop" but why would you??

Comment by tomo on August 17, 2008 at 12:27pm

I've got an old '86 chevy silverado sitting at my shop.Can i convert that? (305ci. 4brl)

Comment by David Smith on August 17, 2008 at 10:54am

Here is a listing of regulations that need to be changed. This is accurate with referenced material. When I post I always reference so if someone wants to challenge they must challenge with evidence not rhetoric.

The problem at present is that the rules in place are designed for fleet operations where grants are available to local and state governments to help with the sky-high costs.
The OBDII (1996: The OBD-II specification is made mandatory for all cars sold in the United States) rule can be modified so a conversion system can use a separate emission alarm system. This would reduce the cost of each engine certification. A standardized system that can be used across all gasoline engines would allow millions of vehicles into the conversion stream.
Even CARB is seeking relief from this onerous rule so the state can certify autos for the private motorist at a reasonable cost.
Here is an excerpt from the NATURAL GAS VEHICLE RESEARCH ROADMAP undertaken for CARB in California.
There needs to be a national focus on after-market conversions—it would be nice for $ to go towards developing more conversions for more platforms.
Conversions are available domestically, however they must be certified for use by EPA and ARB in California—the latter, a reportedly challenging process that must be undertaken for each engine/vehicle model combination. In addition to uncertainty of market demand, different safety and emissions certification standards, along with different incentives and mandates, serve as barriers to foreign light-duty NGV models in the US.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/natural_gas_laws_federal.html

Aftermarket Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversions
Conventional original equipment manufacturer vehicles altered to operate on propane, natural gas, methane gas, ethanol, or electricity are classified as aftermarket AFV conversions. All vehicle conversions, except those that are completed for a vehicle to run on electricity, must meet current applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards. For more information about vehicle conversion certification requirements, see the Alternative Fuels & Advanced Vehicles Data Center's Conversions Web site. (Reference 40 CFR 85)


Search Database:
Code of Federal Regulations (current data)
For: "40CFR85"
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/multidb.cgi
SEE ATTACHED FOR ENTIRE TEXT
(c) Aftermarket conversion system means any combination of hardware, including but not limited to fuel storage and fuel metering hardware, which is installed on a light-duty vehicle, light-duty truck, heavy-duty vehicle, or heavy-duty engine with the effect of allowing the vehicle or engine to operate
on a fuel other than the fuel which the vehicle or engine was originally certified to use. Components which do not affect the emissions performance of the converted vehicle or engine, as determined by the Administrator, are not included for the purposes of this subpart.

§ 85.2207 On-board diagnostics test
standards.
(a) [Reserved]
(b) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if it is a 1996 or newer vehicle and the vehicle connector is missing, has been tampered with, or is otherwise inoperable.
(c) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if the malfunction indicator light is commanded to be illuminated and it is not visually illuminated according to visual inspection.
(d) A vehicle shall fail the on-board diagnostics test if the malfunction indicator light is commanded to be illuminated for one or more OBD diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), as defined by SAE J2012. The procedure shall be done in accordance with SAE J2012 Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions, (MAR92). This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies of SAE J2012 may be obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc., 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096–0001.

Also see - § 85.2222 On-board diagnostic test procedures.

The development of a stand alone On Board Diagnostic (OBD) that works across all engine types could eliminate the certification requirement on the conversion kit and place the emphasis on the diagnostic system. This would allow millions of vehicles to qualify for conversions overnight.

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