Abstract
Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) were introduced into Japan to improve the serious air pollution problem in the cities and to reduce Japan's dependence on petroleum. NGVs are targeted to replace city route buses, garbage trucks, good delivery trucks, etc.
The target for NGV promotion by the year 2000 is 200, 000 vehicles together with appropriate infrastructure of refueling facilities.
Japanese government supports promotion of NGVs by deregulating of laws and giving several incentives such as subsidies and taxation relief. The key issue for the commercialization of NGV is discussed.
Secondly, current status of development and utilization of NGV cylinders are described, comparing the weight of various types of cylinders and their adoption to newly designed vehicles.
