Buenos Aires' Motorcycles Converting to Natural Gas
by TreeHugger on 02.27.05
Next march, Buenos Aires will be the first city to have motorcycles running with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). This fuel is the cleanest of the fossil fuels available, as it's composed of methane. When combusted, it transforms into very small amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, virtually no ash or particles, and lower levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other reactive hydrocarbons. Coal and oil, on the other hand, result in higher carbon emissions, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and the release of ash particles, which don't burn and are carried to the atmosphere, contributing to pollution.
The prototype was presented in the last Natural Gas Vehicles World Congress (NGV2004), held in Buenos Aires, and two companies just announced the launch of models for sale for next march. The special gas tanks (smaller than the cars') have to be approved by the government, but the approvals are in their final stages. The brands responsible are Zanella (Argentinean, site seems to be having problems) and Honda, in association with gas equipment firms. Also, these special tanks will enable current motorcycles to make the switch for $1000 (around US $300).
Natural gas has been used as an alternative fuel for the transportation sector since the 1930's. These days Argentina is the number one country with vehicles running on CNG, and Latin America is the number one region, having near 400 cities with converted vehicles. This has to do with the fact that CNG is a much cheaper alternative than petrol (refuel is about 1/3).
For those who aren't familiar with the equipment, in order to convert your vehicle you need a special tube-shaped tank, which is placed in the rear, top, or trunk of your car (last is most common), losing some space but gaining economically and environmentally. The tank can be filled in a similar manner and amount of time to a gasoline tank at regular or special CNG stations: there are more than 1,200 natural gas stations in Argentina, and close to 2,270 in the whole Latin American region. More than 200,000 cars converted to gas in this country last year. [by Paula Alvarado, Buenos Aires, Argentina]
The only problem is that on its own methane is one of the worst greenhouse gases
great to read bout cng bikes.hard to find info on cng bikes on the net
great to see cng bikes. can i anyone tell me where can i find these cng conversion kits for bikes. i am really developing great interest in it. i would really appreciate it and one more thing, just put some bigger pictures for something like this in order to get a better view. the picture above is just ok but not satisfying. i hope you are getting what i mean to say. thanx
Hasibullah sheriff: Pictures aren't that great 'cause the motorcycles are going on sale these days (meaning these weeks, months), so they aren't so popular yet. The reason we posted them was that it's a tendency here, and hopefully, worldwide. The equipments will be available in Argentina, but if you are in touch with a CNG tank manufacturer maybe you could try to get him to make one for you.
xxx: As for methane, it is produced in a natural way by decomposition of organic substances in environments that are oxygen poor. Also, in the digestive system of animals such as cows.
Near half of the production comes from rice sows, animal activity, and termites action. One quarter comes from swamps and dump land, 15% from natural gas and mineral carbon production, and 5% from garbage decomposition and organic waste.
It is true that it is a dangerous gas, but apparently, human kind has very little capacity to modify the damage it can make, as measurements as reduction of the human beings on the planet or their food are impossible. Also is very little what can be done to control the flux in the troposphere, other than reducing waste in gas conduits, which has practically no incidence in the atmosphere.
If extraction is safe, then it's near to no harm, as combustion doesn't let the methane get in the environment. I'm no chemical expert, but I think this is one of the best alternatives in fuel.
Hello i am from Pakistan I have CNG Kit Conversion Centre ( ISQ CNG) we have converted too many cars to CNG , But Now we are doing another thing , converting Bikes to LPG because Petol is very expensive here, now i want to ask you that is there any problem to converting bikes to LPG.... second i want to converte bikes to cng so when will this technology come here in Pakistan and give me full details of Equipments that use in CNG bikes... and finally i want to give you suggestion that in your above photo of CNG bikes i dont think that this is good place of Cylinder... i have a photo of my bike, in it we fit the cylinder at Chain cover side, if u say i well send u photo....
Thanks .....
Noman Ali
nomanalimemon@yaho.com
hi
i have designed a tank which would store CNG for bikes but the problem i am facing is that the size of the conversion kit is quite large which is difficult to be incorporated with the bike and more over many changes are to be made .Can you please tell me where i can find the smallest kit in INDIA?
We are fittings bikes in India on LPG / CNG kits with Stainless Steel Cylinders at the rear of the bike, the bike we are fitting are of Hero Honda Model of various CC engines, and have been accepted here in India,
If you have any questions or requirement then you can mail me.
We are providing directly from the OEM and are thier sole selling agents for these products.