Britannica Sources used in this answer

How can natural gas be used as a transportation fuel?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

natural gas The Troll A natural gas production platform in the North Sea, 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Bergen, Norway. Troll A, the largest movable structure ever built, rests on the seafloor some 300 metres (990 feet) below the surface and rises more than 100 metres (330 feet) above the sea. The platform regulates the recovery of gas from 40 wells located on the seafloor.

Natural gas is utilized as a transportation fuel primarily due to its clean-burning characteristics, which make it a preferred alternative to traditional fuels despite its status as a fossil fuel that emits carbon dioxide.12

In the transportation sector, natural gas is commonly employed in the following ways:

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): Many buses and commercial automotive fleets currently operate using compressed natural gas.1
Gas Engines: Vehicles can be powered by a gas engine, which is an internal-combustion engine structurally similar to a gasoline engine. The primary difference is the substitution of a gas-mixing valve for a carburetor.3
Performance Benefits: Natural gas generally offers better antiknock qualities than gasoline, allowing for higher compression ratios during combustion.3

While natural gas is an effective fuel, its use in mobile applications can be limited by the need for specialized storage. Unlike stationary power plants that remain connected to pipelines, vehicles typically require portable fuel containers, and the current lack of widespread refueling infrastructure remains a significant obstacle to broader adoption.3