The project plan is for Yellow Cab Cooperative which provides cab services to customers based in the Milwaukee, WI.
About American Cab
American Cab is a premium taxi service which covers areas in the city of Milwaukee including rides to General Mitchell Airport and the Amtrak Station .
Green Initiative
The company can adopt Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a fuel to power its taxis instead of using the traditional petrol and diesels as fuels. US has rich reserves of natural gas and CNG is available at approximately 1300 refuelling stations in 46 states of the United States .
Affordability
CNG as a fuel costs 15%-40% lesser than diesel or gasoline . However the cost of CNG powered vehicles is $3500 to $6000 more than the gasoline powered vehicles .
Performance
The octane rating indicates the efficiency of a fuel. The Octane rating for CNG is quite higher than that for gasoline . In a dedicated engine, a CNG vehicle’s power in terms of acceleration and cruise speed is much greater than gasoline powered vehicles . Additionally, due to the cleaner burning characteristics of natural gas in comparison to gasoline, CNG vehicles run more efficiently and tend to have a longer life . The operating cost of CNG cabs has been found to be 25% less than gasoline cabs . The average fuel costs for CNG cabs has been found to be 32% less than gasoline powered cabs and the maintenance cost of CNG cabs is 15% less than gasoline powered cabs .
Environmental Impact
Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and the most efficient form of energy . Its combustion produces less pollution than other fuels. The use of natural gas produces lesser carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which can help address environmental issues such as smog, acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions .
Bibliography
AGA. n.d. Environmental Benefits of Natural Gas . Accessed June 30, 2014. http://www.aga.org/our-issues/issuesummaries/Pages/EnvironmentalBenefitsofNaturalGas.aspx.
EPA. n.d. "Clean Alternative Fuels: Compressed Natural Gas." afdc.energy.gov. Accessed June 30, 2014. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/pdfs/epa_cng.pdf.
