Natural gas – Vehicle fuel

Natural gas is a fossil fuel whose resources are substantial and whose proven reserves are steadily increasing. It has a natural place as a fuel for industrial and transportation applications. Whatever its field of application, this hydrocarbon offers specific advantages that make it a strategic alternative both in the search for viable energy diversification, and in expanding the supply of conventional liquid fuels.

This article looks at natural gas as an internal combustion engine fuel for land transport vehicles. Although they represent very important markets, marine, stationary and cogeneration applications, as well as railways, are not or hardly addressed, bearing in mind that the technologies discussed in this article are, for a large part, similar to those used for these applications. The aim, therefore, is to provide a sufficiently broad perspective to cover the main elements needed to estimate the potential of this gaseous fuel. For the sake of honesty, the advantages and disadvantages have been systematically presented, as this article is not intended to promote the natural gas vehicle sector, even if it does contribute to this, but, once again, to provide the most relevant elements for assessment.

Taking into account the constraints specific to the use of a gaseous fuel, this article, which presents an analysis of the various technological approaches currently in use and possible future developments, is a logical follow-up to the article by the same authors on the fossil fuel aspect of natural gas [BM 2 591] . The position of natural gas with regard to atmospheric pollution and the specific constraints of the natural gas engine are addressed here, as well as the impact of variations in the fuel's characteristics on combustion control and the post-treatment of pollutant emissions. The issue of storage is also briefly addressed. The normative and fiscal contexts will be partially addressed in the documentation.

This article also provides an overview of current approaches and technologies on the market.