Atlanta Gas Light, a Southern Company Gas subsidiary, will test adsorbed natural gas bi-fuel vehicles with new integrated fuel storage technology developed by Adsorbed Natural Gas Products. Atlanta Gas Light provides natural gas delivery service to more than 1.6 million customers in Georgia. 

Adsorbed natural gas (ANG) technology uses activated carbon to reduce the storage pressure of natural has without sacrificing the volume of natural has stored through a process called adsorption. ANG vehicles operate at significantly lower storage pressure than standard compressed natural gas vehicles, refilling at 900 psi instead of 3,600 psi. This reduces energy consumption by over 50% and decreases fueling time by over 60%. 

"The transportation sector accounts for the largest portion of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and 80% of smog-forming pollutants come from mobile sources," said Ian Skelton, director of natural gas vehicles at Southern Company Gas. "Natural gas is playing an important role in reducing emissions, and adsorbed natural gas can significantly reduce the cost and complexity of fueling natural gas vehicles. We are pleased to help demonstrate this new technology in our AGL fleet operations."

Atlanta Gas Light is purchasing vehicles for its fleet with the new adsorbed natural gas storage system and will test their performance compared to standard natural gas vehicles and conventional gasoline vehicles over the demonstration period. Results from the test will inform the company's decision to purchase additional adsorbed natural gas vehicles and help to validate this technology for use by others.