'08 Impala CNG Conversion System Approved by EPA
By John O'Dell November 26, 2008An Arizona startup that grew out of an auto shop specializing in natural gas vehicle repair said it has received federal EPA certification for a kit that converts the 2008 Chevrolet Impala from gasoline to cleaner, cheaper compressed natural gas.
Prices to convert the car -- kit plus labor -- should run from $11,500 to $13,000, said John Mitton, managing partner of Phoenix-based Natural Drive LLC.
The system works on the LS, LT and LTZ "civilian" models and the 9C1 and 9C3 police models and on both the 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V6 engines.
The conversion system for the '08 Impala is available through a network of independent installers in states where it meets applicable emissions equipment rules. That rules out California and 10 other states that use California's emissions standards and require such equipment to be certified by the California Air Resources Board as well as the EPA.
Mitton said he expects to have CARB certification for the 2009 Impala conversion system, but not until about the middle of next year. It can cost up to $250,000 to pay for the various test procedures that must be done to obtain the state's stamp of approval, he said.
The system, which includes high-pressure fuel tanks, fuel lines and fuel injectors as well as a reprogrammed powertrain control module, is aimed primarily at government and private business fleet operators but also is available to individuals who can foot the bill.
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A 2008 Chevrolet Impala converted to run on natural gas displays a CNG logo.
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It qualifies for a $2,500 federal income tax credit, which helps cut the total cost, and various states also offer incentives (click here for a list) for CNG conversions: Oklahoma and Colorado are at the top of the list, providing a state income tax credit of half the total cost.
CNG typically costs about 30 percent less than less than gasoline -- in Utah, where it is heavily subsidized, retailers sell it for about 80 cents a gallon.
In addition to its price, benefits include cleaner emissions and less carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases than gasoline or diesel. Because it burns so clean, engines that use CNG also typically require less maintenance than gasoline engines.
NaturalDrive's system packs the CNG fuel into a quartet of long, narrow, cylindrical tanks installed in the car's trunk, cutting cargo area to 14 cubic feet from 19 cubic feet in the stock Impala.
The tanks hold the CNG equivalent of 10.4 gallons, and an optional fifth tank mounted in the gas tank cavity beneath the car boosts fuel capacity to the equivalent of 13.3 gasoline gallons and increases maximum range to about 375 miles, Mitton said.
With the CNG system, the '08 Impala is rated at 19 miles per gas gallon equivalent around town and 30 miles per gallon on the highway.
The converted car with the base 3.5-liter engine is rated at 212 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque.
Because of the expense of obtaining certification for each individual model and model-year, NaturalDrive won't be working backward to supply conversion kits for pre-2008 Impalas or other GM models, Mitton said.
CNG is a popular fuel in parts of Europe and Asia, but in the U.S. is used mainly by fleets, including taxi companies, and by local governents for buses, trash trucks, street sweepers and other utility vehicles. American Honda is the only autmaker producing a CNG-powered passenger car, the Civic GX, for retail sale in the U.S.
NaturalDrive is one of a handful of private companies making conversion systems that can be used for private vehicles: the other major players are BAF Technologies, which specializes in Ford trucks, vans and large sedans, and Baytech Corp., which specializes in full-size General motorss pickups and vans.
John O'Dell, Senior Editor
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