Natural gas is lighter than air. In the event of a leak, it would disperse upward, rather than pooling on the ground. According to the 1995 Directory of NGV Fueling Stations , published by the American Gas Association , there were more than 1,100 NGV fueling stations in operation or under construction in 46 states, with a growth rate of three to four new stations per week. Many fueling stations are accessible to the public and can fill an NGV in about the same amount of time as a gasoline vehicle. Alternatively, fleets which park at a central location can fuel with natural gas overnight.
Many gasoline stations provide convenient fueling for NGVs.
Natural gas is an abundant fuel. Based on 1994 production levels, the U.S. has a 54-year supply of natural gas. Virtually all of the 20 trillion cubic feet of natural gas used annually in the U.S. is produced right here in North America. See Supply Section . Natural gas has an octane rating of 130, making it possible to increase the compression ratios in dedicated NGV engines for superior performance.