CNG vehicle conversion business is booming for Oklahoma company

President Craig Wright said the cost of converting varies with available tax credits, but the switch can pay for itself quickly.

“It's really quite simple, natural gas is cheaper to burn than gasoline,” Wright said. “We have an abundant supply here at home, and we should harness that resource to more efficiently power the vehicles on Oklahoma's roads.”

CNG Interstate offers a bi-fuel system that allows almost any vehicle to burn natural gas or gasoline with the push of a button.

The company is focusing on converting pickups at this point.

Wright said he hopes to streamline the conversion process with an assembly line approach to help lower costs and boost the company's business. Once that is done, he said the company would turn its attention to sport utility vehicles and cars.

Wright said he expects CNG Interstate's continued growth to mean additional expansion within Oklahoma.

He hopes to expand into Tulsa by this fall. He also is eyeing a possible expansion into south Oklahoma City or Norman in 2013.

Wright said 97 percent of the almost 200 vehicles CNG Interstate converted in the last six months have come from customer referrals.

Edmond resident David Bryan took his Toyota pickup to the company after studying the costs and benefits of CNG conversion.