Honda is on the cutting edge of alternative propulsion. Cars like the FCX Clarity prove that Honda has that ability, guts and know how to produce and sell a production version of a hydrogen -powered vehicle.
Honda is taking that same drive and innovation to its Civic line, and now you can purchase a new 2014 Honda Civic Natural Gas. With an updated exterior, and better nationwide availability, the Civic Natural Gas is proving that you don't necessarily need gasoline to get your motor running.
Benefits Of Using Natural Gas
The cost of CNG can be as little as half that of a gallon of gas if you use a home refueling device. And at commercial stations, the cost is still significantly less than gasoline. Some research pegs the fuel savings at about 30 percent less than gasoline on average, although as of this writing the savings are nearly 40 percent.
Drivers will be hard-pressed to notice a significant difference in performance between a CNG-powered vehicle and one fueled by gasoline. Though acceleration is typically slower, the car starts and drives normally. As a bonus, in some states, drivers of CNG vehicles can use the HOV lane. A study of New York City taxis running on natural gas concluded that maintenance costs were also reduced.
CNG burns much cleaner than gasoline. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, CNG can reduce carbon-monoxide emissions by 90 to 97 percent and nitrogen-oxide emissions by 35 to 60 percent when compared with gasoline. CNG can also potentially reduce non-methane hydrocarbon emissions by 50 to 75 percent, while producing fewer carcinogenic pollutants and little or no particulate matter.
Using domestically sourced natural gas reduces reliance on imported oil, as does driving on electric power.