How does CNG fuel a vehicle?

Compact Natural Gas (CNG) powers a vehicle through an internal combustion engine designed specifically to utilize compressed natural gas as fuel. These engines operate on similar principles to traditional gasoline engines but have key adaptations that allow them to effectively use CNG. This includes modifications to the fuel delivery system, ignition timing, and combustion chamber design to optimize performance and efficiency when burning natural gas.

CNG is stored in high-pressure tanks in a compressed form and is released into the engine's combustion chamber, where it mixes with air and is then ignited to produce power. This process is efficient and reduces emissions compared to other fossil fuels, making CNG an environmentally friendlier option for vehicle propulsion.

Engines designed for CNG can either run solely on this fuel or be bi-fuel, allowing them to operate on both CNG and traditional fuels. This flexibility can improve range and convenience for drivers.

In contrast, other options such as gas turbine engines and hybrid electric engines represent different propulsion technologies that do not specifically deal with the unique attributes of CNG. Additionally, while vaporizing the gas before combustion is a processing step that can apply to fuel systems, CNG systems primarily rely on the internal combustion engine design to utilize the fuel efficiently.