WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 22, 2006) - Compressed natural gas (CNG) used to power vehicles in the United States costs considerably less than gasoline and diesel fuel on a gas-gallon equivalent basis, according to a new report sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The latest "Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report" was released earlier this month. The report is based on a survey of at-the-pump prices at hundreds of fueling stations across the U.S.

CNG costs $1.99 per gas-gallon-equivalent, according to the report, 24 cents less than a gallon of gasoline and 34 cents less than a gallon of diesel fuel. Click here for the full report at the Clean Cities website.

Since the survey was conducted in the first quarter of this year, at a time when gasoline and diesel prices were substantially lower than they are now, NGVAmerica (Natural Gas Vehicles for America) believes the spread has increased further, making CNG an even more economical alternative fuel.

Compressed natural gas is available at about 1,500 public and private fueling stations in the U.S. Natural gas mainly powers high-fuel-use urban vehicles, such as delivery trucks, airport vehicles, transit buses, school buses, trash trucks, shuttle vans and taxis, all of which can be fueled centrally. However, as the price gap between natural gas and gasoline widens, more consumers are buying natural gas vehicles such as the Honda Civic GX.

"More and more vehicles in the United States are powered by natural gas, which is abundant in North America, clean burning and fuel efficient, in addition to being economical," said Richard Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica. "In fact, natural gas vehicles are widely used around the world, with more than five million vehicles on the road powered by either compressed or liquefied natural gas."

Kolodziej added that substantial federal incentives exist for the purchase of natural gas powered vehicles and fuel, and for the construction of natural gas fueling stations.

About NGVAmerica

NGVAmerica is a national trade association dedicated to the development of a growing and sustainable American market for vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen.