"You can give up half the trunk space, which for most people, is unused the vast majority of the time, and get maybe 2/3 the miles on a tank of gas"
It is a non-trivial issue for many. Trunk size is a big issue for a lot of buyers, almost every car review mentions it and often make it a factor when rating it. Heck, Car and Driver, along with Road & Track mentions it when they review things like Ferraris and Lamborghinis. You'd think if there ever was a market that wouldn't care about that, it would be that one...
"And those who choose to do so can fill up AT HOME overnight, just as with electrics. At minuscule cost."
There is the tiny issue of the equipment required to fill up at home. Not to mention the fact it will probably require a permit, and getting said permit is not likely to be easy in many cities. The idea of those things in a lot of garages is the stuff of nightmares for city managers.
"But for the Ford executive to claim it is a major problem is just nonsense."
Sadly, the things you consider nonsense and the things you consider to be easy shows minimal understanding of the issues. Granted, the Ford executive might be over-stating the case. But it isn't clear that he is spouting nonsense. You, on the otherhand...
"once you get the OTR trucks on CNG and maybe half the vehicles, gasoline will be dirt cheap."
T. Boone, who I don't care for much but do recognize he does know his stuff, was pushing CNG for trucks. Now that will work. Certainly, there will be people who will decide to make the switch to CNG for cars. Just like there are some people who want the current crop of electrics. Because in both cases the limitations are not a big deal. But they will be a big deal for a lot of others.
For a lot of reasons, CNG is not going to be a global solution. And unless that happens, your fantasy of dirt cheap gasoline just isn't in the cards. Of course, if you can figure out a way to crater the Chinese and Indian economies, and keep them down, that might change. Until then...
"It is clear that CNG offers the best overall potential for getting us oil independent in the near term"
Maybe. I'd sure like to see something to do that. As I keep pointing out, it is a national security issue if nothing else.
I just don't see CNG doing it. Not for cars. The energy density just isn't high enough. |
