Critique of an existing CNG facility

Here are some photos we took of a CNG facility at an industrial site in Illinois.  We want to emphasize that:

1. The equipment for CNG is relatively well-understood, and these examples are similar to what we’ve seen before, but
2. The customer interface is being rendered by people whose interests don’t go very far beyond equipment sales.
3. As an industry, we will have to do much better than this to make CNG a viable alternative fuel option on a widespread basis.
   • The customer would expect amenities similar to (or shared with) what he currently experiences
   • Safety needs to be improved.
   • Layout and planning needs to be improved.
   • Site development needs to be improved.

We believe that expertise like JGD Associates has in thousands of fueling facilities nationwide is the missing ingredient to make an equipment development exercise into a successful end-user facility.  Please contact us to begin your journey.

Figure 1: This dispenser is nice, but its location is poorly done.  The various hazards surrounding it are not conducive to a good customer experience.  The color schemes are incompatible.  It’s not clear, but the PVC pipe may be feeding a sensor located in an alarm box.  Typically, these would be separate. 

Figure 2: Conduits installed as an afterthought reflect poor planning, safety hazards.

Figure 3: this is a modern-looking dispenser. It has many familiar attributes that motorists will expect. 

Figure 4: This appears to be a dispenser installed to add capacity for fast fueling.  A good sign to be sure, but the planning should be evolving towards to something that is comparable to a modern retail experience, not one from the 1920’s.  CNG customers would likely want a convenient site and a canopy to provide light and shelter.  Skimping on such items wouldn’t improve the overall impression that this is just an improvised, temporary installation. 

The installation is not clearly visible from the road, and naturally that would be an inhibition to attracting customers.  A good road presence is important, not only from the standpoint of guiding existing CNG users, but from the standpoint of selling the concept to potential convertors.

Figure 5: This is presumably a customer interface.  No instructions and no obvious relationship to the particular dispenser to be authorized. 

Figure 6: This is not ready for prime-time.  Dispensers have openings in their monolithic sides so operators can see past them in self-serve installations.  The handles on the island-top plate are severe trip-hazards.  There are two hoses, meaning two lanes of traffic could be accommodated.  However, only one lane is paved.  The other one is for Off-road vehicles?  A slow-filler is in line with the fast-fill, potentially causing confusion and congestion.

Figure 7: Slow-fuel station should not block fast fill lane.  Hose needs to be stowed out of harm’s way—avoiding being caught on bumpers and the like.