What are the effects of converting a car to natural gas?
2 Answers
Converting a car to natural gas can result in insufficient power, manifesting as sluggish acceleration and slow speed increase, which is particularly noticeable when using the air conditioning in summer. This is the most significant drawback. Below is an introduction to engine-related content: Energy conversion: An engine is a machine capable of converting other forms of energy into mechanical energy, including internal combustion engines (reciprocating piston engines), external combustion engines (Stirling engines, steam engines, etc.), jet engines, electric motors, etc. For example, an internal combustion engine typically converts chemical energy into mechanical energy. Device: An engine can refer to both a power generation device and the entire machine including the power unit (e.g., gasoline engines, aircraft engines). The engine was first developed in the UK, so the concept of an engine originates from English, with its original meaning referring to a "mechanical device that generates power."
Personally, I think converting a car to run on natural gas depends on usage frequency. The most obvious benefit after my conversion is the significant savings on fuel costs—about 30 to 40 cents less per kilometer. For those who drive a lot, the annual savings can really add up. However, the car does lose some power, especially noticeable when climbing hills or running the AC—the throttle response feels sluggish. Another downside is the gas tank takes up trunk space, making luggage room tight for family trips. The most annoying part is that CNG stations are fewer than gas stations, sometimes requiring detours, and queuing under the summer sun is no fun. I’d recommend considering conversion only if you drive over 50-60 kilometers daily.
