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His Dallas-based company is the top provider of natural gas vehicles. So you’ll understand if BAF Technologies president John Bacon makes the usual “green” arguments regarding natural gas for cars – green as in environmentally-friendly, and green as in slicing through energy costs.

“Natural gas is about a dollar a gallon equivalent less than gasoline,” Bacon said. “We start off saving money. Secondly, it’s clean-burning. All our vehicles are to the cleanest standards available – all our vehicles are SULEV” (Super Low Emission Vehicles, a U.S. emissions standard). “In fact in California, our vehicles are allowed in the HOV lanes.”

But Bacon – whose company designs the compressed natural gas (CNG) systems, installs them in fleets for Fortune 500 companies, and provides nationwide service and support – makes another point that also may be compelling in these dangerous times: CNG helps with national security.

“We don’t have to go outside the United States for the fuel. We have over 200 years of natural gas in the United States right now,” Bacon said. “So by staying here, we keep our dollars at home, we don’t do business with people that don’t like us a whole lot, and we keep our country safe.”

BAF Technologies has been doing its part for alternative fuels and natural gas for cars since 1992, when it was founded in response to the Clean Energy Act. Since then, it has converted some 12,000 vehicles from gasoline to CNG and has expanded to 11 installation plants across the country. Verizon and AT&T are two of its biggest customers, but a new designation as a Qualified Vehicle Modifier from the Ford Motor Company – whose vehicles are desired for CNG conversions – may mean more business from corporate fleets as well as those in use by governmental entities who are under mandates to switch to clean energy fuels.

“It’s a strategic relationship with Ford that allows us to submit to Ford our systems for approval by them. By them approving it, then they cover the entire warranty on any vehicle that we convert to compressed natural gas,” Bacon said.

“There’s increased interest in natural gas right now, due to the effort to reduce dependence on foreign energy sources,” said Dick Cupka, Ford Motor Company sustainability program manager. “It’s growing very quickly. Ford Motor Company is wanting to be part of that. We’re partnering with groups like BAF to make product available to the customers.”

Those BAF Technologies products meet Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resource Board requirements; in fact, a vehicle that has been CARB-certified has met some of the most stringent standards in the country. That is the result of a rigorous BAF testing regime for effectiveness and safety that goes beyond CARB – BAF is the only company in its industry that crash-tests its vehicles, Bacon said.

BAF’s process regarding natural gas for cars involves an “upfit:” a vehicle’s standard gasoline tank and fuel delivery system is removed at one of the company’s plants, and black, sleek CNG tanks are installed. Inspections and tests are conducted several times during the process to ensure effectiveness, safety and compliance with emissions standards.

For more information on BAF Technologies and natural gas for cars, go to http://www.baftechnologies.com.