WiNG-ing it: Driving 700 Miles on CNG

Editor’s note: The following is a guest blog post by Nicole Adams of Westport Innovations, manufacturers of natural gas engine solutions based in Vancouver, Canada.

Late last week, our team from Westport Innovations braved the wind and rain in Times Square to show off the new Westport WiNG-powered bi-fuel Ford F-250. It was the final stop on a four-day road trip from Detroit to New York City, powered entirely by compressed natural gas (CNG).

The drive itself was terrific. It was great getting to spend time with my colleagues, Arnie Campbell, John Howell and Alissa Marczewski who all took turns driving, refueling and delighting in the $40 fill-ups.

Even better was the chance we got to meet with supporters, enthusiasts and people who had no idea what CNG was or that there are light-duty options in the United States. We were continually encouraged by folks who would pull up next to us at a stoplight or in a parking lot and start asking questions about driving on CNG. They wanted to know about safety, fuel efficiency, noise, environmental benefits, availability, etc. CNG is significantly cleaner and you can save up to 50% on fueling costs. The facts speak for themselves.

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a genuine enthusiasm and growing momentum behind natural gas vehicles. Some people drove hours just to see the bi-fuel truck. Others called us in the middle of a busy schedule, asking if we could stick around for an extra 30 minutes so that they could take a quick test-drive between meetings.

In the end, the Where in the World is Westport WiNG road trip was both enlightening and encouraging. We had an awesome time! Our only regret was that we couldn’t make it to all the places we wished we could have. There’s always next time… In the meantime, check out the pictures below.

And finally, thank you CNGnow for the station-finder app. It was a huge help in planning our route. In fact, we were able to make it all 700 miles without having to dip into our truck’s gasoline reserves at all. The refueling infrastructure isn’t where we would like it to be, but this is proof that it’s there and viable for many consumers.