Video: CNG-Powered 2003 Mustang GT Points The Way Forward

There’s a big debate in America right now over what energy sources should provide power to the millions of automobiles our roads at any given time. While some people are proponents of pure electric cars, and others back gas-electric hybrids, the fuel that is arguably the best alternative to gasoline is compressed natural gas. America is abundant in natural gas, though the conversions are costly, and CNG engines tend to make less power, causing many would-be customers to reconsider.

But a Michigan trade school, the Center for Professional Studies, has built a 2003 bi-fuel Mustang GT that runs both gasoline and CNG with alcohol injection, without losing any power. Perform CNG revealed its prototype natural gas Mustang to the world at the Woodward Dream Cruise, giving those looking to go green without sacrificing performance another option.

This 2003 Mustang GT has been modified with a host of performance parts, including a Vortech supercharger, ported and polished heads with a 5-angle valve job, BBK lowering springs, and the aforementioned alcohol injection. This setup puts 469 hp to the rear wheels while running on either gasoline or natural gas with alcohol injection.

The alcohol injection seems to be the key to keeping the engine’s performance from slipping when switching between gasoline and CNG. This is an important distinction, as many CNG engines see performance numbers slip between 10 and 20% when using CNG due to natural gas having a lower energy density than gasoline.

That doesn’t appear to be a problem for the bi-fuel Mustang though, which can run up to 90 miles on CNG, though 90% of the trunk space is taken up by the large CNG tanks. Still, with a gallon-equivalent of CNG costing about half the price of premium gasoline, you could save bookuu bucks by running your Mustang on the cheaper fuel, and you won’t have to sacrifice any speed or power either. Best of all, this system could work on either modern Mustangs, or a restomod…perhaps something with a much bigger trunk?

 

About the author

Chris Demorro

Christopher DeMorro is a freelance writer and journalist from Connecticut with two passions in life; writing and anything with an engine.
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