CNG vehicle conversions were quite common around 1980 in NZ, and I understand Italy amongst other places also. But they never got the numbers for the auto manufacturers to come on board and push the technology.
Conventional CNG bottles are very heavy with a very high gross/net weight, giving a low range and what a hassle.
Nevertheless in some poorer locations, eg Pakistan, very popular today. Increasingly Asian cities are switching their buses to reduce diesel engined pollution.
My expectation is that the weight issue could be addressed much better today, maybe even with composites. Also LNG (vs CNG) technology has come a long way.
It really might be more a matter of requiring a critical mass now to get things going in middle income countries, but Australia is probably too rich to get many prepared to accept the inherent disadvantages, except maybe for buses and other city ranged commercial vehicles.
Power generation is the key domestic opportunity for gas.
EL
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