“The U. S. now has a 100-year supply of natural gas,” [General Motors chief economist Mustafa Mohatarem ] said. “I’d make a bet it’s the next big transportation fuel. The price is so much lower than gasoline — people will find a way to use it.”
But it makes you wonder. U.S. automakers fielded some natural-gas models in the 1990s and haven’t shown much interest since. Only Honda makes a natural gas car for average consumers, a version of the Civic. So far, the biggest interest is among companies that operate fleets and can centrally fuel natural gas vehicles, not consumers.
Long-haul trucking may be the first field to make widespread use of the fuel, but other vehicles will follow, Mohatarem predicted… (more)
