"Can I convert my ____ to run on CNG?"

[John Mitton]

We love our newcomers, and encourage those who are getting their feet wet with CNG to ask questions of the many experts after you have taken a few minutes to review the following:

First of all, don't even think about turning a wrench on these 3600 psi fuel systems without proper training. A great first place to look for training information is at the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation website (www.cleanvehicle.org). Vehicles in the United States must meet DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 303 and 304 and National Fire Protection Association code 52. The NFPA-52 code can be downloaded here for a modest fee, and you can also download the Texas regulation (which closely mirrors NFPA-52) via the attachment to this post. If you want to see examples of poor installations, review our thread on non-conforming vehicles in the Safety Forum here. This video describes one such incident from a do-it-yourself conversion.

We have a private forum for NGV professionals. Please fax your credentials (ASE, CSA, state certifications, etc.) along with your CNGchat user name to: 1-801-406-0400 and we will provide access.

Now, the economics:

1. Converting a gasoline or diesel vehicle to run on natural gas is a $8,000 to $18,000 proposition when done safely and legally. Some states provide tax credits to help offset this (see #7 below).
2. In the United States the conversion of a vehicle with onboard diagnostics (OBDII) must be performed using an EPA or CARB certified retrofit. This generally means all vehicles less than ten years old or so fall into this requirement. The full scoop on EPA's rules and regulations can be found by clicking here.
3. Getting past EPA certification is generally a $40k to $80k root canal per engine family and model year for the Small Volume Manufacturer ("SVM") providing these retrofit solutions. CARB certification for California and 12 other states which have adopted CARB standards is about a $300k process per engine family and model year.
4. The prices in #1 above include at least $2k to $6k in recovery costs for the root canal described in #3. The rest is in expensive high-pressure CNG tanks, regulators, injectors, and of course the installer's shop time.
5. There is no shortage of illegal kits out there which purport to convert anything with four wheels to run on CNG. There is also no shortage of shadetree mechanics willing to throw these dubious kits on your vehicle. While they and you might never be caught, there are many downsides to this including: unqualified mechanics installing poorly engineered / dangerous high-pressure flammable gas systems; messing up the vehicle's fueling system and diagnostics (engine light constantly on & burning up catalysts), fines and penalties; zero tax credits to offset the installation. If you are in California, don't even think about it... CHP impounds vehicles without a valid CARB certificate.
6. CNGchat is a forum for the promotion of safe and legal products. We remove posts and ban users who use this forum to promote illegal and non-certified products (click here for our rules).
7. There are federal and state tax credits & other incentives to help offset the cost of your legal conversion. Please browse over to the Incentives Forum, especially the "sticky" threads which describe these incentives in detail.

EPA has recently streamlined the process for alt fuel converters, read about it here:
http://www.epa.gov/oms/consumer/fuels/altfuels/altfuels.htm

Here is the current list of legal conversion systems.
http://ngvamerica.org/pdfs/Available...nd_Engines.pdf

If your vehicle is not on the list please don't ask us why. Many of the illegal kit manufacturers have deep pockets and have certified their systems with the EPA in past years. If you are in contact with these companies please ask them to suck it up and get their systems certified again.

NGV America has put together an excellent primer on conversions. Please take a moment to read this FAQ before starting any new discussion threads here. Many of the questions that keep getting posted on this forum are answered in the document. Thanks!
http://www.ngvamerica.org/pdfs/FAQs_...ng_to_NGVs.pdf

[Curtis]

Convert Your Vehicle to Compressed Natural Gas - SAFELY Source - NGVAmerica - CVEF Thursday, 22 May 2008 USA
The following bulletin was issued by NGVAmerica and the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation(CVEF). Though aimed at the US market, the safety message is relevant to most other markets as well.
As gasoline and diesel prices continue to rise, many people are considering converting their car or light truck to run on compressed natural gas (CNG). CNG is a clean, inexpensive (currently selling for less than half the cost of gasoline) domestic fuel. Best of all, it uses zero imported (or domestic) petroleum. And government rebates are available to help with the cost of conversion and to further lower the cost of CNG fuel. But conversion from gasoline to CNG should not be done by unqualified technicians, using unapproved conversion kits or unsafe high-pressure gas cylinders.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rules concerning the manufacture, sale and installation of alternative fuel engine conversion systems. The California Air Resources Board has similar and even more stringent emission rules for conversions in that state. Only EPA and/or CARB-certified conversion systems are permitted to be installed on vehicles. While a variety of non-certified systems are sold on the Internet and/or offered by some automotive shops, EPA has taken the position that installation of these systems is "tampering with a federally approved emission control system", a federal violation punishable by a substantial financial penalty. Installation of non-certified systems can also cause a vehicle to fail emissions inspection.

Because of the technical difficulty and the expense of EPA and CARB certification, certified conversions are only available for a limited number of engine families and applicable vehicle models. An up-to-date list of all currently available EPA- and CARB-certified engine retrofit and repower systems is available at NGVAmerica. New Honda Civic GX CNG vehicles, built in the USA, are also available in some states (see Honda).

Installation of an engine conversion package and fueling system may be done when the vehicle is first purchased or after it has been in service. EPA and CARB require that converters provide appropriate documentation and training to installers of their systems. Installation by non-qualified installers is illegal and could damage the retrofit equipment or the engine (or both), compromise vehicle performance, or render the vehicle unsafe to operate. No EPA- or CARB-certified engine conversion systems are sold to untrained/unapproved installers.

CNG conversions SHOULD NOT be performed by unqualified technicians! Properly installed CNG systems are safe and economical, with the vehicle operating almost exactly like a gasoline vehicle. However CNG systems rely on high-pressure compressed natural gas for fuel, and high-pressure gases require specialized components and technical skills for installation. Conversions should be done according to the National Fire Protection Association's Vehicular Fuel Systems Code (NFPA 52).

CNG converters and vehicle owners are reminded that CNG cylinders, often the most expensive component of the fuel system, must carry labels showing they meet the applicable Department of Transportation standard (FMVSS 304) by the symbol "DOT" on the label. The label will show an expiration date, after which the cylinder may not be safely used. Cylinders should also be inspected for safety every three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first (see www.cleanvehicle.org for more information). Converters and vehicle owners should have documentation that this safety inspection has been done.

Detailed answers to "Frequently Asked Questions About Converting Vehicles to Operate on Natural Gas" are available from NGVAmerica.