COMPTON, CA - The City of Compton, Calif., is considering a bi-fuel (gasoline and CNG) pick-up truck referred to as the Compressed Natural Gas 150 or N-150, from Niyato Industries. The City is exploring updating its fleet of trucks extensively used by the City's Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Fire, and Water Departments with CNG vehicles, according to a release from the City.

"With the rising cost of gasoline, the idea of using alternative fuels such as CNG is plausible," stated G. Harold Duffey, Compton city manager, in the release. "The City pays around $3.35 per gallon for gasoline, but the cost of CNG in Compton is around $1.85. We are in the process of identifying our fuel needs in the City, and we are encouraging the Compton Unified School District and El Camino College Compton Center to do the same.”

During the 1980s, the City operated a CNG ambulance before it was commissioned out of service. As the cost of gasoline remained relatively low during the 1990s, the City opted to purchase a gasoline-powered ambulance as its replacement. With the rising costs of gasoline in recent years, converting the City fleet to CNG vehicles could be a major savings, according to the release. Compton has a CNG station located at a SoCal Gas facility. 

Niyato Industries stated that the introductory N-150 model is available to travel approximately 650 miles using both fuel sources before refueling. If equipped with the larger CNG tank, the truck can travel up to 880 miles before refueling.