CNG conversion kits allow vehicles to run on compressed natural gas, a cheaper and greener alternative to gasoline and diesel. Kits can be installed manually or automatically, but must be EPA or CARB certified and installed by a Qualified Systems Fitter. Savings from the conversion can cover the cost of the kit and installation, and tax credits are available for certified systems. Non-certified kits are illegal to install and can result in hefty fines.
A CNG conversion kit alters a vehicle with a conventional gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine to run on compressed natural gas, a less expensive and greener alternative to traditional gasoline and diesel. Vehicles can be modified to run manually; exclusively on CNG (vehicles dedicated to CNG); or they can automatically switch from CNG to gasoline or diesel (bi-fuel vehicles). Bi-fuel vehicles incorporate two separate fuel tanks, one for gasoline or diesel and one for CNG, and their engines can use any of these types of fuel at the same time.
CNG conversion kits are available for almost any existing car sold in the United States. Kits are available online and in retail stores. While the conversion process is claimed to be complicated, consumers who are mechanically savvy may choose to install the kit themselves. Others opt to have a professional install them.
However, many of the CNG conversion kits are not certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Also, in the US and California, the EPA and CARB require the purchase of only EPA or CARB certified CNG conversion systems. They also require CNG conversion kits to be installed by properly trained installers, known as Qualified Systems Fitters (QSRs).
A CNG conversion kit incorporates steel, aluminum, plastic or composite CNG storage cylinders; pressure regulators to convert gas from storage pressure in the tank to metering pressure; gas injectors or gas mixers for metering fuel; gas cylinders and valves; and the necessary electronic systems, wiring, high pressure pipes, accessories, switchgear and accessories. Depending on the company that sells them, the basic CNG conversion kit may or may not include the storage cylinder or other features.
Savings from the CNG conversion can cover the CNG conversion kit itself, the installation process, and any accessories the customer wants. One significant variable is the amount of fuel capacity desired, since the cost of CNG storage cylinders is high. However, this expense is often recouped in fuel savings, although this may not be applicable to older cars that don’t have a long life to come. Additionally, income tax credits are given to customers who install certified refurbishing systems in their cars, which can make a CNG conversion kit an even more attractive option.
Only EPA or CARB approved CNG conversion kits can be installed in vehicles built since 1994, the year the EPA began addressing the issue of fuel conversion systems. For vehicles manufactured before 1994, owners or installers may not modify vehicles in a way that may decrease the emissions performance of the vehicles. Installation of non-certified CNG conversion kits is considered by the EPA to be a federal violation, specifically “tampering with a federally approved emission control system,” punishable by a financial penalty of more than $5,000 US dollars ( USD) per day.
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