The Current Situation of Mass Proliferation of NGV in Japan

Abstract

The development of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in Japan began in the early 1990 under the initiative of the gas utilities. NGVs have subsequently shown a steady expansion. At the end of October 2001, their number was somewhat in excess of 9, 000. NGVs have gradually gained ground as a practical, low emission vehicle. The rapid expansion of NGV has been driven not only by that worldwide mounting interest in a low emission vehicle in the wake of the present-day escalation of the urban air pollution problems and the looming problem of global warming. In part, it is also the cooperation of central and local governments, the gas utilities and the automobile manufacturers and their efforts that have contributed to introduce the NGV. This report summarizes the current situation of NGV proliferation and the trend of vehicle technology in Japan.