The end of the petrol station?

Fill your gas-powered car at home

By PH Staff / Friday, 22 April 2005 / Loading comments

Fill your natural gas-powered Honda at home

Is this the beginning of the end of the petrol station? American Honda has announced that it's started limited sales of its natural gas-powered Civic GX saloon, paired with a new home-refuelling appliance called Phill. California-only for the moment, Honda reckons it gives motorists the chance to say goodbye to gasoline.

The firm said the car boasts the cleanest internal combustion engine ever tested by the US EPA and the lowest EPA-estimated annual fuel cost of any new saloon including hybrids.

The Phill appliance, manufactured and marketed by FuelMaker Corporation, is a home refuelling appliance that allows drivers to re-fuel their vehicles at home using their existing natural gas supply. Through a partnership with FuelMaker, the Phill appliance will be available for lease and installation through 17 authorised Honda Civic GX dealers in California.

US motorists who drive natural gas-powered cars are offered government incentives like single passenger access to car-pool lanes and tax deductions -- much like here really.