I've been hearing about the merits of the Civic GX for a few years now from my hairstylist Sue, who drives one from Lake Arrowhead to Pasadena nearly every day she works. Under the conditions she drives, I think the GX is a great choice...here's why...
Most of Sue's 70+ miles each way is on the highway, and in most cases traffic isn't nearly as snarled as it is near our Santa Monica offices. Even if traffic was bumper-to-bumper, she could make use of the HOV lanes as a single-occupant vehicle. She has a Phill station that she plugs into every night and she has another mode of transportation for longer trips into uncharted territory.
For the rest of the populace, the Civic may end up being more of a pricey novelty. Even though the Civic GX is has a short list of creature comforts, it is still one of the highest-priced Civics ever. The trunk is tiny, eaten up by large pressurized gas cylinder. It's slow to get up to speed...any speed, and the Phill station is expensive, even after any/all tax credits are applied.
But let's also remember that the GX is an adaptation of a Civic -- a car that was not originally designed as a CNG vehicle. I'd like to see a natural gas-specific vehicle someday -- one that offers the optional features we now expect of most cars and one with a proper trunk. I'm especially fond of CNG as an alternative because the infrastructure is already in place for many people to refill at home. Given the trend that technology eventually becomes inexpensive enough for the masses, perhaps the Phill stations will begin dropping in price after its popularity and demand increase. With legislation in the works that will likely be even more favorable to alternative-fueled vehicles, maybe we could expect even more savings in the near future. Let's hope so.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 32,665 miles
canadaphant says:
08:39 AM, 06/30/09
Takahashi-
You do remember that right now, no one is even making Phills anymore? Not rocket science to get one going for sure, but just a head's up.
adavis2493 says:
09:22 AM, 06/30/09
Question: I have heard that there is a higher risk of death when in a bad collision driving a hybrid due to electrocution and what not. Is that risk there with a Natural Gas Vehicle?
canadaphant says:
10:50 AM, 06/30/09
@ adavis
You're kidding, right? Biggest risk is still from the crash itself-hybrids pose no greater danger, there have been zero reports of electrocutions from hybrid systems.
Having a compressed gas tank does pose some danger; if damaged, it could burst, but the it's unlikely. I'm betting the tank is a composite wrapped tank, so it would likely just blister. The danger then lies with the natural gas you have spewing out. Gasoline, being a liquid fuel, would take longer to disperse and would produce fewer vapours, but it would be around longer; natural gas will empty quickly, and if you get the mix right, you'll have a nice big fireball. However, it is unlikely there would be an explosion; with no air in the tank, the flame wouldn't go into the tank itself (can't burn w/o O2, right?) and so you'd just have a torch effect, with the puncture in the tank burning away. By the time the pressures equalized and air got into the fuel tank, the amount of natural gas left inside wouldn't be enough for a big explosion-it probably wouldn't be able to overcome the strength of the punctured tank itself.
sue_sue1 says:
08:56 PM, 07/ 3/09
Susan Hall
Susan Hall at 8:10pm June 30
This is to canadphant: Fuel Systems Inc. has purchased the Phill Maker and will also maintain them in the very near future. The process is already underway...good times for those of us that have them attached to our shed at this very moment...I've GOT to get out more...