When it comes to fueling your mid- or heavy-duty trucks, you’ll typically have your choice of using diesel or compressed natural gas. The debate between CNG vs diesel has been going on since compressed natural gas started becoming used more frequently among fleets. Today, that debate continues, and if you find yourself wondering which fuel choice is the better option, then here are just a few things you need to know in order to make the right choice.
Price
When you try to decide which fuel choice makes sense, you will always end up comparing prices. After all, your budget is very important, and you want to be sure you are choosing a fuel that complements your budget. When you compare the price of CNG and diesel, you’ll notice that neither one is always the cheaper price. Sometimes diesel will cost more while other times CNG will cost more. The difference, though, lies in the consistency of the prices. For instance, compressed natural gas offers a more consistent price because factors such as weather and source don’t typically affect the price. However, the cost of diesel is always inconsistent because weather, source and other factors play a role in how it’s priced. If you want a fuel source that will allow you to better predict the cost and have a better grasp on your budget, then CNG is a better choice.
Source
CNG and diesel are not sourced from the same place. Diesel is imported from other countries. This not only increases the cost of diesel, but it also makes this fuel dependent on other countries. Because of this, fleets that run on diesel run the risk of seeing prices sky rocket or seeing their sources change on a regular basis.
Compressed natural gas is found from sources throughout the United States. Instead of depending on imported fuel, fleets that run on CNG can receive their American-made fuel from a source close to home. This not only keeps costs down, but it also means that we don’t need to rely on anyone else for this supply. Plus, experts say we have a strong supply of natural gas, which means your company’s fleet will be set for many years to come.
Emissions
According to the World Health Organization, vehicle emissions are the number one source of pollution in cities, and more than 133 million Americans live in areas that violate clean air standards. Diesel trucks are part of this problem, as they have high emissions that find their way into the air.
On the other hand, vehicles that run on compressed natural gas do not add to this pollution. As a natural gas, CNG produces no emissions that are harmful to the air, which means that using this fuel source is a better choice in order to help remove some of the pollution in our cities.
When you compare CNG vs diesel and pay attention to factors like price, emissions and source, you’ll see why choosing compressed natural gas over the petroleum-based fuel is a better option. Ozinga has been providing CNG to fleets for many years, and we can help you fuel your fleet or find the right CNG solution for you. Contact one of our energy experts to learn more.
