Natural Gas Buses: Separating Myth From Fact

Increasing numbers of transit agencies across North America are making the choice to convert their bus fleets to compressed natural gas (CNG), and even more are seriously considering it. Natural gas buses now account for at least 20% of all new bus orders. However, it becomes difficult for fleet operators to fairly evaluate the potential benefits of an alternative fuel program if they areconfronted with misinformation or poor comparisons based on false assumptions.; ; This fact sheet addresses some of the most common misconceptions that seem to work their way into anecdotal stories, media reports, and even some poorly researched white papers and feasibility studies. It is an expanded version of information that was presented on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy at theSouth Coast Air Basin Alternative Fuel & Electric Transit Bus Workshop in Diamond Bar, California, on March 15, 2000.