2007 July | NGV Global

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Monthly Archives: July 2007

Compressed Natural Gas Buses For Peru

July 30, 2007 – 6:00 pm

Peru, Lima

Lima’s natural gas bus fleet will increase tenfold with the arrival of 10 Chinese built units this September. Press reports Peru indicate that San Felipe Express S.A., which currently operates one compressed natural gas (CNG) bus, is importing the new buses for the company fleet. The Peruvian Chamber for Natural Gas, Cámara Peruana de Gas Natural, is hopeful that the trend will spread to other bus operators and will monitor the new vehicles assessing their technical and economic performance. The reports quote another bus fleet operator as saying that now is an opportune time for the introduction of CNG buses to the country.

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Student Transportation Receives $600,000 Grant for Clean Air CNG Vehicles

July 30, 2007 – 6:00 pm

USA, New Jersey

Student Transportation of America Ltd. (STA) has received a U.S. $600,000 grant toward the purchase of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles for its Riverside, California operations. The grant which was awarded from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will be applied to reduce the purchase price of new CNG vehicles servicing the Riverside United School District in California. The vehicles are manufactured by Blue Bird Corporation.

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Natural Gas Vehicle Sales Double for First Six Months in Switzerland

July 30, 2007 – 6:00 pm

Switzerland

Sales of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) have almost doubled for the first half of this year in comparison to the same period last year, with 1,148 NGVs registered from January to June this year against 620 last year. Industry commentators say the number could have been even higher, if it weren’t for some uncertainty around government policy, which has resulted in some motorists adopting a ‘wait and see’ position.

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Schmack to Build Largest Renewable Natural Gas Plant in Europe

July 25, 2007 – 7:21 am

Germany, Schwandorf

Schmack Biogas plans to build a 4 MW biogas plant for gas feed-in

Joint investment with E.ON Ruhrgas and E.ON Bayern

Schmack Biogas AG, together with E.ON Ruhrgas and E.ON Bayern, plans to build Europe’s largest biogas plant, which will feed gas into the natural gas grid and be operated with renewable resources. The plant will have a total capacity of 10 MWgas, equivalent to an electrical output 4 MWel. Construction of the plant will start in mid-2007, with the start of biogas production scheduled for the end of December 2007.

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BP Launches World

July 25, 2007 – 7:19 am

Korea, Ulsan

Dual-fuel LNG/Diesel tanker hits the waves

40 Tons of Diesel to Be Saved Per Day

It may not have wheels but it is almost certainly the world’s largest LNG propelled vehicle – BP Shipping took delivery earlier this month of the British Emerald, the world’s largest liquefied natural gas carrier (LNGC), the first in a series of dual-fuel LNG/diesel-electric gas ships. Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, Korea, at 155,000 cubic metres she is the largest LNG carrier to date.

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Pickens, Clean Energy Sizes up Chinese NGV Market

July 25, 2007 – 6:50 am

China

Boone Pickens, founder of Californian based natural gas fuels provider, Clean Energy Fuels, is said to be eyeing up China for investments supplying fuel for natural gas vehicles. Reuters reports that Pickens was in China last week in talks with state oil firm CNOOC. The report says talks centred around the company teaming up with Chinese companies to build natural gas fuelling stations for buses and trucks. Pickens is a long-time advocate of natural gas as an alternative fuel for transport, saying it is a more valuable use of the resource and to use it for power generation.

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CNG Cylinder Inspection Class Offered

July 25, 2007 – 6:46 am

USA

Las Vegas, USA Sept 18-19

Every CNG cylinder of every CNG vehicle on the road requires periodic inspection. This has created a demand for certified inspectors. The inspector needs to know what to look for, how to visually inspect, and how to determine whether the container is safe. NGV Institute (NGVi) is offering a NGV Fuel Storage Cylinder Inspection Safety Training September 18-19 at The Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas. The course provides all the training needed to perform the required inspections. CSA America’s certification exam is offered at the end of the training session.

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Fiat Considering Bi-fuel Engine Option in India

July 25, 2007 – 6:00 am

India, Mumbai

Fiat India is reportedly considering offering bi-fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) engines in its vehicle range. Hindu Businessline reports that Managing Director, Mr De Filippis Giovanni suggested this possibility earlier this month. Possible models to be available include the recently released Palio Stile and the Grande Punto and the Linea models.

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Great Eastern Energy Commences CNG sales in West Bengal

July 25, 2007 – 5:38 am

India

Great Eastern, a company involved in the exploration, development and production of coal bed methane (CBM) in India, has commenced initial industrial sales of CBM as well as sales of Compressed Natural Gas "CNG" for vehicles in and around Asansol, West Bengal, India.

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CNG Buses Launched in Andhra Pradesh

July 25, 2007 – 5:36 am

India, Hyderabad

Hyderabad has joined the growing list of cities in India with buses operating on compressed natural gas (CNG). thehindu.com reports that the State’s Chief Minister, YSR Reddy, flagged the first CNG bus off earlier this month. The State has 100 buses on order due to be operational by Christmas though most of these will be operating in Vijayawada. The Euro IV buses are manufactured by Ashok Leyland in India. Running costs for the buses are expected to be around 30% less than diesel.

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US Appeals Court Upholds SCAQMD

July 23, 2007 – 6:00 pm

USA

In a major victory for the environment that could benefit natural gas vehicles (NGVs), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled the Californian South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has the authority to implement their alternative fuel rules for state and local government fleets. This case, which was brought against the SCAQMD by the Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA), involved the legality of regulations adopted by the SCAQMD concerning the cleanliness of new street sweepers, public transit vehicles, urban buses, solid waste collection vehicles, airport passenger transportation vehicles, including shuttles and taxicabs picking up airline passengers, and heavy-duty on-road vehicles.

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China Natural Gas Establishes U.S. Office in New York City

July 23, 2007 – 6:00 pm

USA, New York

Company Hires Two Finance V.P.s

China Natural Gas, Inc. a provider of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicular fuel in Xi’an, China, has opened its U.S. office in New York City. Mr. Qinan Ji, Chief Executive Officer of China Natural Gas stated, "As a publicly traded U.S. company, we are devoting the appropriate time and resources to maintain a presence on the ground in the U.S. This effort allows us to be accessible to our investors, as well as more effectively interact with our U.S.-based legal counsel, independent auditing firm and investor relations consultant. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the investment community through this tangible New York presence."

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NGVAmerica Joins Forces With Environmental Groups for US Lobbying Effort

July 19, 2007 – 6:00 pm

USA, Washington DC

US natural gas vehicle association, NGVAmerica has drawn the support of several influential environmental groups in their efforts to have natural gas qualify as a fuel in any “Renewable Fuels Standard” or “Alternative Fuel Standard” program passed by Congress this year. The Union of Concerned Scientists, the Coalition for Clean Air, and the Natural Resources Defense Council have written a joint letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi extolling the environmental and other benefits of NGVs, and urging the House to include natural gas in any RFS or AFS program they pass.

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Peru Touring and Automobile Club to Provide Certification of NGVs

July 19, 2007 – 9:45 am

Peru, Lima

Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communcition has issued directive authorizing the Touring and Automobile Club of Peru to be the official certifier of vehicle conversions to natural gas. Andina reports that the authority is valid for the next two years.

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Public CNG Stations for Singapore

July 19, 2007 – 9:25 am

Singapore

Singapore could have their first public compressed natural gas (CNG) station operating by January 2008. Channel News Asia reports that Smart Automobile, a company that runs Singapore’s first CNG Taxi fleet, will set up a publicly accessible site under the name of Smart Energy.

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