This paper describes a technology which provides a method for the stor
age of natural gas, primarily for vehicular use, as a Liquid solution
with other hydrocarbons at ambient temperatures which achieves an ener
gy storage density (on a volumetric basis) up to about 80% of gasoline
. The solution is stored at pressures of about 2000 psig and provides
approximately 3 times the storage density of compressed natural gas. V
arious operating scenarios may include differing hydrocarbon ''solvent
s'', such as propane, LPG, or butanes, and different required storage
temperatures, with lower temperatures allowing higher volume fractions
of methane. With this technology, the low storage density of CNG and
the very low storage temperatures of LNG are both overcome, thus drama
tically improving the technical feasibility of large scale commerciali
zation of natural gas powered vehicles.