Comparative Review of Natural Gas Vehicles During the Energy Transition

The global climate crisis necessitates the urgent implementation of sustainable practices and carbon emission reduction strategies across all sectors. Transport, as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, requires transitional technologies to bridge the gap between fossil fuel dependency and renewable energy systems. Natural gas, recognised as the cleanest fossil-derived fuel with approximately half the CO2 emissions of coal and 75% of oil, presents a potential transitional solution through Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs). This manuscript presents several distinctive contributions that advance the understanding of Natural Gas Vehicles within the contemporary energy transition landscape while synthesising updated emission performance data. Specifically, the feasibility and sustainability of NGVs are investigated within the energy transition framework by systematically incorporating recent technological developments and environmental, economic, and infrastructure considerations in comparison to conventional vehicles (diesel and petrol) and unconventional alternatives (electric and hydrogen-fuelled). The analysis reveals that NGVs can reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 25% compared to petrol vehicles on a well-to-wheel basis, with significant reductions in NOx and particulate matter. However, these environmental benefits depend heavily on the source and type of natural gas used (CNG or LNG), while economic viability hinges largely on governmental policies and infrastructure development. The findings suggest that NGVs can serve as an effective transitional technology in the transport sector’s sustainability pathway, particularly in regions with established natural gas infrastructure, but require supportive policy frameworks to overcome implementation barriers.