Natural gas gained attention and appeal, especially in 2008, when oil prices jumped to record highs. Ideas of utilizing it for all government and heavy-duty trucks were proposed to the Obama administration and it looked as though there was forward movement. Many automakers began making a handful of natural gas models, but interest faded quickly. This is not much different than what we are seeing today surrounding hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs).

So, what happened? Why not jump to this fuel source and get the infrastructure in place? If it's cleaner, cheaper, and readily available, one would think that it would be a go.

There are many answers to these questions as there are regarding FCVs. Some are obvious, while some require a much more long-winded explanation. In the end, however, aside from the fact that oil prices plummeted, Tesla and the electric car revolution is the primary reason.