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/2009/07/2007-honda-civic-gx-phorget-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/2008/01/2007-honda-civic-gx-the-phill-is-coming.html) after. From the look of http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2008/03/2007-honda-civic-gx-figuring-fuel-economy-with-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...

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

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