Natural Gas — The Bridge to Hydrogen
Vehicles fueled by hydrogen should and will be the future of America’s transportation system. The long-term goal is to produce this hydrogen from renewable sources. Until then, we can begin reaping the benefits of hydrogen by reforming natural gas. The U.S. Department of Energy confirms this, stating that hydrogen will be produced chiefly from natural gas for the next 25 years or more.

The similarities between hydrogen and natural gas provide a bridge to help shorten the distance to a zero-emissions alternative fuel. Both natural gas and hydrogen can fuel internal combustion engines. Hydrogen fuel storage, fuel, compression and dispensing systems are based on existing CNG technology. Natural gas fueling stations up and running today can be used, with minimal retrofitting, to fuel vehicles that operate on hydrogen, natural gas, or a blend of both.

Every natural gas fueling site offers the potential to become a future hydrogen fueling site, with relatively minimal requirements to make the transition. The engineers, mechanics, inspectors, and other professionals with expertise in natural gas can also transition that expertise to hydrogen. This is how the natural gas of today becomes the hydrogen of tomorrow.