Compressed Natural Gas: How Going Green Can Be Good

To many, one of the most important (and relatively contemporary) trends is going green. Today more than ever people are concerned about the environment and what humanity may be doing to it. We’re looking to reduce our carbon footprint – and no one knows that better than those who work in the courier business.

This is common knowledge for the employee and the owner. Driver jobs and the ways that switching to alternative fuel impacts them may be of concern to those in the business. After all, couriers are perhaps the most important members in this industry as they are the ones actually transporting loads to and fro. However, they need have no fear – here are all the ways that switching to compressed natural gas is a positive.

What Is It?

Compressed natural gas, or CNG, may not be a household name, but it is something the majority of us use in our everyday lives. It fuels some of the items found in many of our homes, specifically gas cookers and boilers. When used in compatible vehicles, a phenomenon that is becoming more and more common, CNG can get you up to 300 miles per tank.

Why Use It?

The most obvious answer is incentives, which the government place for companies that decide to go green by making their vehicles compatible with CNG (the main advantage being that these companies will be offered a lower fuel duty). This is fixed at 3.16p/l or 24.7p/k until at least 2025.

Although there are still more perks for electric vehicles (they produce no tailpipe emissions), businesses that decide they want to use CNG will find that they are supported by the government.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Before you make the step toward CNG, here are the things business owners should be aware of:

1)    Those worried about CNG vehicles running low on gas can fit them with a reserve tank for peace of mind.

2)    CO2 emissions are comparable to diesel. When biomethane (a sustainable fuel that comes from organic waste) is used, this shoots up by about 60%. Overall, CNG vehicles are quite good for air quality.

3)    The UK still has limited public refuelling stations. However, this number is steadily on the increase.

4)    Because of the weight of CNG gas tanks, payload can go down about 10%. However, load space remains unaffected.

Going green by using compressed natural gas is an option that is becoming more and more plausible for the average business owner. Driver jobs remain unaffected, it is better for the environment and the government is putting more and more incentives in place. Exactly what the future holds is still murky, but one thing is clear: you should definitely keep an eye out for this green gas.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day owner driver jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.