Nanotechnology and Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles

Filed in archive Energy on September 9, 2009

© Atomic Taco

NanoFilm CEO Scott E. Rickert today published an excellent IndustryWeek editorial looking at the multiple ways nanotechnology can assist in improving the efficiency of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.

"The bad news? We're not going to put electric cars in every garage in the next decade," Rickert writes. "The good news? There are enabling nanotechnologies in the works right now that can help us have more conventional fuel now, for less money, with less impact on the environment."

"Currently, CNG needs to be stored under great pressure, which means storage tanks are small, need frequent refilling and are relatively expensive," he notes. "Not a great business model for an everyday car. New engineered carbon nanostructures that are highly porous promise the capability of storing natural gas at lower pressures, making fueling stations more efficient and giving drivers more miles per tank - all at lower costs."

The full article is available here.