Honda Offers $3,000 Fuel Card to Civic CNG Buyers

Honda Motor Co. is giving prepaid fuel cards worth $3,000 to U.S. buyers of its 2012 Civic compressed natural gas sedan enough fuel to drive about 32,000 miles.

CNG sells in the U.S. for the gasoline energy equivalent of about $2 per gallon. But current prices are closer to $2.90 at the Clean Energy Fuels retailers that honor the Honda fuel card.

The Civic CNG model is priced at $27,000 compared with about $20,000 for a comparable gasoline-powered Civic. Honda sells the natural gas model rated at 38 miles per gallon on the highway in 36 states, mostly to fleet customers.

The company recently began marketing the car to individuals in western states and has added more mainstream options such as leather seats.

Last year Honda said it aims to sell 2,000 CNG Civics this year but hopes to eventually double that volume. The company hasn't disclosed how many CNG cars it has sold so far this year.