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

Discussion in 'Other Cars' started by cwerdna, Jul 5, 2009.

  1. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    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...
     
    #1 cwerdna, Jul 5, 2009
  2. patsparks

    patsparks An Aussie perspective

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    It's like a plug in electric.
    You charge overnight at home, in this case with natural gas.
     
    #2 patsparks, Jul 5, 2009
  3. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    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
     
    #3 qbee42, Jul 5, 2009
  4. Paradox

    Paradox Prius Enthusiast / Moderator
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    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.
     
    #4 Paradox, Jul 5, 2009
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