didn't realize compresed natural gas vehicles were so slow to fill up

cwerdna · 07-05-2009, 04:52 AM

I've seen a couple CNG Honda Civic GXs around here but didn't realize until I stumbled across some blog posts at Edmunds that they took so long to fill up.

See 2007 Honda Civic GX Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line, in particular 2009 Honda Civic GX: An Afternoon at the Pump | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line. From 2007 Honda Civic GX: 20 Minutes and Still Not Full! | Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line, it sounds like you need to go to a higher pressure (3600 psi) pump to get faster fill ups.

You could previously get a home filling station called Phill but per http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...get-phill.html and my quick check, it seems like its status is in limbo. It previously cost them $3000 out of pocket (http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...is-coming.html) after. From the look of http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...ith-phill.html, Phill is WAY slower than going to a commercial pump but at least it can be done when you car's parked at home.

Hmm, maybe the Pickens plan isn't such a good idea...

patsparks · 07-05-2009, 06:03 AM

It's like a plug in electric.
You charge overnight at home, in this case with natural gas.

qbee42 · 07-05-2009, 08:56 AM

You can refill quickly, but it requires a high pressure system. CNG tanks are like big SCUBA tanks: the fuel is stored as a high pressure gas, not a liquid. Without a cascade system of high pressure tanks, you have to use a pump to increase the very low pressure NG from the mains into high pressure CNG. That takes a while.

Tom

Paradox · 07-05-2009, 09:48 AM

Yeah, I saw when it first came out that Honda had a NG Civic and if you buy it they install a 'refilling station' in your garage but even with that it took something like 6-8 hours for a fill up. As mentioned you need very high pressure found at actual filling stations to fill up quickly.

We had conversion vehicles when I was in the AF back in the 90's... They ran great but they just didn't go anywhere near as far as they did before the converson with a full tank.

07-05-2009, 04:52 AM	#1
cwerdna Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle area, WA Posts: 2,308 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 26 Thanked 60 Times in 52 Posts Friends: 3	didn't realize compresed natural gas vehicles were so slow to fill up I've seen a couple CNG Honda Civic GXs around here but didn't realize until I stumbled across some blog posts at Edmunds that they took so long to fill up. See 2007 Honda Civic GX Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line, in particular 2009 Honda Civic GX: An Afternoon at the Pump \| Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line. From 2007 Honda Civic GX: 20 Minutes and Still Not Full! \| Long-Term Road Tests Blog on Edmunds' Inside Line, it sounds like you need to go to a higher pressure (3600 psi) pump to get faster fill ups. You could previously get a home filling station called Phill but per http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...get-phill.html and my quick check, it seems like its status is in limbo. It previously cost them $3000 out of pocket (http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...is-coming.html) after. From the look of http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2...ith-phill.html, Phill is WAY slower than going to a commercial pump but at least it can be done when you car's parked at home. Hmm, maybe the Pickens plan isn't such a good idea... __________________ 06 white package #7 (NL); 04 Daytona Blue Nissan 350Z Enthusiast trim; mom has 07 white NAH Last edited by cwerdna; 07-05-2009 at 04:56 AM.

07-05-2009, 06:03 AM	#2
patsparks An Aussie perspective Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Adelaide South Australia Posts: 9,229 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: N/A Package: Base Thanks: 124 Thanked 182 Times in 140 Posts Friends: 33	Re: didn't realize compresed natural gas vehicles were so slow to fill up It's like a plug in electric. You charge overnight at home, in this case with natural gas.

07-05-2009, 08:56 AM	#3
qbee42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northern Michigan Posts: 10,477 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 95 Thanked 391 Times in 290 Posts Friends: 10	Re: didn't realize compresed natural gas vehicles were so slow to fill up You can refill quickly, but it requires a high pressure system. CNG tanks are like big SCUBA tanks: the fuel is stored as a high pressure gas, not a liquid. Without a cascade system of high pressure tanks, you have to use a pump to increase the very low pressure NG from the mains into high pressure CNG. That takes a while. Tom

07-05-2009, 09:48 AM	#4
Paradox Prius Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SI, NY Posts: 2,125 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Adv. Technology Thanks: 21 Thanked 299 Times in 180 Posts Friends: 9	Re: didn't realize compresed natural gas vehicles were so slow to fill up Yeah, I saw when it first came out that Honda had a NG Civic and if you buy it they install a 'refilling station' in your garage but even with that it took something like 6-8 hours for a fill up. As mentioned you need very high pressure found at actual filling stations to fill up quickly. We had conversion vehicles when I was in the AF back in the 90's... They ran great but they just didn't go anywhere near as far as they did before the converson with a full tank.

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