Vehicles Powered by Natural Gas Get a Test Drive in San Diego : Environment: Public officials will try specially equipped Buicks that emit far less pollution than conventional automobiles.

It looks like a Buick. It rides like a Buick. And, if not for the two huge compressed natural gas cylinders that virtually fill the trunk, it might just pass for a Buick.

The sign on the front door gives it away: “Natural Gas Vehicle--For Cleaner Air.”

Earlier this month, to demonstrate the effectiveness of natural gas as an environmentally safe fuel alternative, seven city and county officials got behind the wheels of specially equipped “NGV” 1990 Buick Le Sabres. For six months, San Diego City Councilman Ron Roberts, County Supervisor Brian Bilbray and five others will test-drive the natural gas-powered vehicles, which spew 90% less carbon monoxide, 50% less ozone-forming pollutants and 33% less nitrogen oxide than gasoline-powered cars.

What’s more, they’ll do it for about half the price: One therm of natural gas, which provides roughly the same number of miles as a gallon of gas, is only 69 cents.

Sound too good to be true? In fact, the technology is available to retrofit traditional engines; San Diego Gas & Electric Co., the sponsor of the six-month demonstration program, spent $2,300 to convert each Buick to natural-gas power. About 500,000 NGVs are in operation in Canada, Italy, New Zealand, the Soviet Union and United States. General Motors Corp. is near agreement with several gas companies that would lead to the first commercial production of natural gas-powered trucks. And some local businesses and transit authorities have already embraced natural gas as an affordable alternative.

Next spring, seven NGV San Diego Transit buses are scheduled to come on-line, and North County Transit is in line for seven more, according to Howard D. Levin, SDG&E;’s new products manager.

The difficulty comes when it’s time for a fill-up: A natural gas filling station is hard to find. A special gas station near the San Diego Convention Center will provide fuel for the test cars, which can go about 200 miles before refueling--and, if they run out of natural gas, the drivers can flip a switch to run on gasoline.

But, if SDG&E; has its way, it will soon be allowed to install pumps at businesses that wish to fuel their fleets with natural gas. SDG&E; submitted an application to the Public Utilities Commission seeking the financing authority to begin selling the gas for this purpose.

According to R.J. Sommerville, the county’s air pollution control officer and another NGV Buick test driver, such alternatives to gasoline could soon be required by law.

Congress is considering legislation that would require some vehicles to be run on alternative fuels. And the California Air Resources Board soon will consider a proposal that would require, beginning in 1994, as many as 10% of the cars sold in the state to meet an emissions standard nearly 70% stricter than existing limits.

“All of those are moving forward, and most of them will affect San Diego,” said Sommerville, who said a vast majority of San Diego’s air pollution comes from automobile emissions. Sommerville, who has driven natural gas-powered vehicles, described their performance in one word: “Great.”

The only problem Bilbray could see with his new Buick was the limited trunk space. An avid surfer, Bilbray said he doubts that the cylinders of gas would leave room for his board.

Councilman Roberts was unfazed. “They told me I wouldn’t be able to fit more than one set of golf clubs in there at a time. But I haven’t golfed in two years, so that’s no problem,” he said.