- #916 of 924
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SF Bay Bridge free?
by rogerbohl
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Feb 08, 2009 (11:13 am)
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On the Bay Bridge approach from 880, there is a bus lane, where no toll is charged, marked with separate signs (approximate wording) "Busses Only" "Car Pools OK [hours]" and "Vehicles with Clean Air Sticker OK." I have used it many many times without interference. Does anyone know if this truly permits CNG cars with white stickers to use the lane anytime? Only during car pool hours?
RB 
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- #917 of 924
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Re: SF Bay Bridge free? [rogerbohl]
by epnfrn
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Feb 08, 2009 (2:10 pm)
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Replying to: rogerbohl (Feb 08, 2009 11:13 am)
Yes, CNG cars with white stickers are allowed to bypass the main toll plaza using these lanes during carpool hours ONLY. this is also the same for all other Bay Area bridges - though some do not have a bypass ... for these you just go through 'carpool' stalls.
i cross the Carquinez and Bay Bridge everyday this way, and have saved about $75 million dollars  the GX is the perfect Bay Area commuter car! and my 2006 will be for sale in a few months (we're leaving the state) in case anyone is listening
epi
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- #918 of 924
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Re: SF Bay Bridge free? [epnfrn]
by temj12
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Mar 02, 2009 (10:20 pm)
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Replying to: epnfrn (Feb 08, 2009 2:10 pm)
I live in Tennessee and I did not realize that you could buy autos that run on natural gas. What is the difference in filling up with ng versus gas? Is there any difference in the acceleration on a natural gas vehicle?
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- #919 of 924
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CNG cars?
by freedml
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Mar 03, 2009 (6:46 am)
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Replying to: temj12 (Mar 02, 2009 10:20 pm)
Yes, cars can run on CNG, even in Tennessee. Some use both CNG and gasoline and the one we own runs the same on either fuel. It's harder to compare CNG-only cars to their gasoline versions but our CNG Honda Civic seems to accelerate about the way a Honda Civic should.
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- #920 of 924
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Re: CNG cars? [freedml]
by rogerbohl
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Mar 03, 2009 (9:37 am)
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Replying to: freedml (Mar 03, 2009 6:46 am)
Our 1999 CNG-only Honda has lots of spunk around town. I believe, however, that it has the smaller engine available for the Civic, so is not great at altitude (5000', e.g.) or on steep hills, where is must shift down to "3rd" gear (it is an automatic) to maintain 60 MPH, especially with two folks aboard. It will maintain that (or higher speeds) in 3rd, but I feel like I'm running the engine at a very high rpm, so I generally let it climb hills at around 55, where the engine seems to be racing less.
The Honda is a very smooth-running engine, and may well be able to handle high rpms without excessive wear, but I prefer to err on the conservative side.
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- #921 of 924
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Re: SF Bay Bridge free? [temj12]
by adea
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Mar 03, 2009 (9:17 pm)
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Replying to: temj12 (Mar 02, 2009 10:20 pm)
The main difference in filling up with CNG is that you can't just go to a gasoline filling station. There are specific locations for public use and these may or may not be close to where you live. People that have a natural gas line to their home can purchase a home cng pump. Gasoline is a liquid and CNG is compressed natural gas which is about 12 times lighter than air and it goes into specially made kevlar/carbon reinforced tanks (anywhere from 3000 to 4500 psi) and is actually safer than a gasoline car. I have a Honda Civic GX (dedicated cng) and it has comparable acceleration to the gasoline version. But I also get much better mileage than the gasoline version (45 hwy/40 city) because the engine is made just for cng or hythane ( cng and a mix of 20% hydrogen) as it runs much leaner on cng. Right now, I'm paying $1.20/gge (equivalent gallon) but in Utah, they're only paying about 70 cents/gge.
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- #922 of 924
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Re: SMOG Certification Required [beingreen]
by adea
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Mar 03, 2009 (9:36 pm)
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Replying to: beingreen (Feb 03, 2009 12:36 pm)
One thing you should be aware of is that some of the cng pumps allow oil from the compressors into your fuel system. I know Trillium is one to avoid. I had a converted car and after using Trillium for one year, I had it emissions tested so I could get a certificate. The gasoline part passed with flying colors, but the cng one failed. Because of the excess oil going into the system, it was emitting excess HC (hydrocarbons). The injectors that were on my converted car were much different than the ones on the Honda Civic GX, which have very fine tolerances so buyer beware.
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- #924 of 924
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An End to Free Parking?
by beingreen
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Jul 21, 2009 (2:27 pm)
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Recently I was led to believe that we can no longer park a compressed natural gas car at a meter in the City of Los Angeles without putting money in the meter. Has anyone else heard this? What about Santa Monica and, is it, Hermosa Beach?
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