With several alternative fuel solutions still on the drawing board, none have been declared the ultimate victor. Companies are still working on technologies such as plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cells, but Mercedes-Benz is considering exploring another alternative.

Mercedes-Benz will show a compressed natural gas version of its B-Class small car at this week’s Washington Auto Show and is strongly considering offering the technology in a U.S.-spec production vehicle, according to Automotive News. Compressed natural gas was once thought of as the fuel of the future, but has largely been abandoned by the world’s automakers – at least in the light-duty segments.

Compressed natural gas seems like a logical alternative to petroleum-based fuels as it is clean burning and found in abundance in the U.S. However, Honda is the only major automaker to offer a CNG vehicle in the U.S. – the Civic GX.

Mercedes already sells a version of the B-Class in Europe that can run on gasoline or CNG, so it might not be long before prototypes of the CNG B-Class are seen testing on U.S. soil. However, with little public awareness of CNG vehicles, it could be a while before Mercedes offers one in the U.S. market.

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