HYPRES, an Oklahoma-based manufacturer of high-pressure breathing air compressors, has come out with a home-fueling unit for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.
The compressor block that the company makes is also just right for this new application, called the Smart Fill CNG. Presently, according to company President Ron Peeler, it is the only U.S.-made unit of its kind.
Natural gas, of course, continues to enjoy rock-bottom prices thanks to the production glut. Other companies—notably Chesapeake Energy (NYSE: CHK) in tandem with General Electric (NYSE: GE)—have made inroads into home-fueling solutions for natural gas vehicle users.
From NewsOK.com:
Peeler said a home-fueling unit for CNG can provide fuel for about $1 a gallon. The gas costs about 70 cents a gallon, while it costs another 30 cents a gallon to power the fueling unit.
The unit, much like a common residential air conditioning unit, is meant to be situated outside the garage and connects to existing gas and electrical lines. A control box is mounted inside.
As of now, the company has enough material to develop 60 units, of which three are ready with another seven in the pipeline. Following that, HYPRES will build to order.
