Q. I recently drove past W. Summit near N. Main where there used to be a compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station. All that is left is an assortment of abandoned fittings.

Why was it removed? How many CNG filling stations are left in ­Washtenaw County? Who uses them? And does Honda still make CNG-fueled vehicles?

A. The pump belonged to DTE and primarily served CNG vehicles based in the former city maintenance yard on N. Main. It was removed in anticipation of redevelopment of the property. That leaves just two CNG pumps in the area, both at Meijer stores (Carpenter Rd. and Ann Arbor–Saline Rd.). Their largest users are fleet vehicles belonging to the city and DTE.

Domestically produced CNG promised to reduce both emissions and dependence on imported energy, but it never caught on for personal vehicles. Honda offered CNG-powered Civics in thirty-six states—an Observer staffer recalls seeing one on the floor of the former Howard Cooper dealership—but sold very few. The company discontinued it last year to focus on electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

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