Opening an alternate fuel station, or adding one to your fleet headquarters, can be a great way to expand your business and reaching a wider audience. Alternate fuels include Compressed Natural Gas, Liquid Natural Gas and even Hydrogen, which are becoming more accessible to get and to use. There are several steps involved in building a new fuel station such as following government regulations, choosing fuel types and designing the development itself.
Check the Regulations
Each state and municipality, as well as the federal government, will have regulations regarding where and what kind of fuel station you can build. With more vehicle manufacturers turning to alternative fuel engines or hybrids, the demand for these stations is on the rise and governing bodies are starting to develop new regulations for the dangers that the fuel transportation and storage pose. With the help of an LNG fueling stations California building company, you can learn the regulations and get the permits needed for your new business.
Choose Alternate Fuel Types
Since there is currently not much infrastructure in place for vehicle use of CNG, LNG or Hydrogen fuels, many transportation companies will install their own. An entrepreneur can also get the permits to build onto the existing infrastructure and start his or her own alternative fuel station for both private citizens and fleet vehicles. When you are choosing fuel types, it is important to keep in mind how many vehicles in your area can use it, and whether you can offer more than one. For instance, some petroleum fuel stations will add a section of LNG or even solar charging ports to their existing space.
Design Your Space
The finished design of your new station will largely depend on whether you are using it for your own fleet or opening it to the public, as well as logistical considerations such as where the land is, how big it is and how the fuel is delivered to you. You can find a fueling station building company to help you with design specifications as well as with the permitting and construction aspects. It is important to remember that you want traffic to flow smoothly to and from your pumps to allow less time for fueling and serve more customers in a day.
As more and more vehicles become capable of using alternative fuels, adding a CNG, LNG or Hydrogen fueling station to your business plan becomes a better investment. Whether you are installing the station for the use of your own fleet of vehicles or opening it up to public customers, you will need to follow the regulations set by local, state and federal governments.
