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Honda natural-gasses up
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December 12, 1996: 4:36 p.m. ET
Natural-gas car latest alt-fuel vehicle to hit the streets
From Correspondent Jody Davis
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NEW YORK (CNNfn) -- General Motors made headlines last week when it unveiled its new electric car, the most advanced alternative-fuel vehicle put on the market. Now Honda hopes to makes news of its own with a vehicle that uses the same fuel that cooks meals and heats homes -- natural gas.
The Civic GX will be the cleanest-burning non-electric car ever made. Production is scheduled to begin next fall and the vehicles should be available to everyone who wants one -- with one catch: Honda has no plans to market it to the public.
"The reason is that the infrastructure for refueling is quite limited for natural gas," Robert Bienenfeld of American Honda Motor said. "There are over 200,000 retail outlets for gasoline in the country and a little over 1,000 for natural gas."
As a result, Honda is relying on fleet sales to companies and government agencies in areas of the country where air quality is poor and cleaner-burning vehicles are mandated.
The GX looks and acts like the standard Honda Civic, only the fuel tank is in the trunk. A full tank will take you an average of 225 miles.
Also different is the price. Engine modifications make the GX $4,500 more expensive than its conventional cousin.
But natural gas is much cheaper than unleaded gas. Mileage is roughly equal to a regular Civic and tailpipe emissions are at least 90 percent cleaner.
Despite the higher price tag, Honda says over time the GX will cost less to operate, making the car more affordable.
But for Honda to make money on the GX, more natural gas filling stations must be built, which would convince more businesses to buy them, two prospects that are not likely to occur for another five years.
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