NGVs Fight Air Pollution & Climate Change

Mobile sources (vehicles and equipment) produce about 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in California and about 70 percent of smog-forming emissions, along with toxic diesel particulate matter (PM).

Natural gas vehicles can start clearing the air right now:

• Heavy-duty natural gas engines met 2010 EPA emissions standards in 2007, making them six times cleaner than 2007 diesel engines in terms of smog-forming hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.
• Light-duty NGVs emit up to 90 percent less NOx and 98 percent less hydrocarbon than gasoline-powered cars.
• NGVs’ greenhouse gas emissions are about 20 percent lower overall than those of gasoline-powered cars and heavy-duty diesel vehicles.

The variety of NGVs on the market means they can reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions generated by most vehicle sources, from commuter traffic to delivery trucks and refuse haulers to port trucks.

We can’t afford to wait.

Air pollution in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley alone costs California $28 billion a year, according to a November 2008 study by researchers at the Institute for Economic and Environmental Studies at California State University, Fullerton. And because of its huge economy, the state is the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world.

Photo credit: station courtesy Clean Energy Fuels