NGV Global

CNG Bi-fuel Volvo V70 – Welcome back!

The natural gas industry as a whole has been an arena of exciting developments in 2009, delivering in a raft of areas despite the gloomy economic uncertainty that heralded the year’s start.

How that gloom has impacted upon the NGV industry isn’t clear at this point and won’t be until year-end vehicle numbers are collected. Mixed reports have come to us from industry members with some saying they have thrived, struggling to keep up with demand, while others have struggled just to remain viable.

In some ways, success enjoyed in previous years had set some manufacturers up for a crunch; having invested heavily to keep up with demand, these manufacturers have had additional financial burdens just when cash flow has become extremely tight. Anecdotal evidence suggests that those in the fueling station and infrastructure areas have been most affected by this. The majority of those I’ve spoken to remain optimistic however, looking forward to more prosperous times in 2010.

Overall, we can safely say our industry sector entered the financial storm healthier than most and has weathered it better than most.

There is plenty to celebrate. Here’s just a few of the highlights for the year (in no particular order and including links that will take you to more details on the NGV Global website) …

US policy pendulum swings in favor of NGVs

In the aftermath of the 2007/8 oil price hikes and local financial conditions, alternative fuels reap the rewards of US stimulus package funding, qualifying for 19 of 25 alternative fuels projects under a $US 300 million program. Just one of several policy initiatives in the US indicating growing recognition that NGVs are a solution to many economic, environmental and energy related problems – US Department …

Turbo charged OEM vehicles enter showrooms

VW Passat TSI Ecofuel – Turbo charging the natural gas vehicle industry and proving a winner with motorists.

Turbo charged OEM CNG passenger sedans and light commercial vehicles entered the market including releases of Volkswagen’s Passat and Touran, Iveco’s Daily in the UK and Samand’s Soren in Iran. Turbo-charging is widely recognized as creating a quantum leap in the acceptance of diesel passenger vehicles in Europe and indications are that it could have the same impact with NGVs.

Win/Win outcomes in motorsports events prove performance of NGVs

Not just a proving ground for NGVs but also a great avenue for publicity, motorsports are playing an increasing role in our industry. OMV in Austria continued their success this year using a Subaru Impreza and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, both converted to operate on CNG and fuelled by biomethane, to take second position overall in the Austrian rally car championship. Driver and former world group N rally champion, Manfred Stohl, continues to be blown away by the success of the car, claiming at the end of the season “…the future will belong to gas powered cars…”! – CNG-powered Austrian …

The CNG rally bug continues to spread through Europe with Stohl’s Mitusibishi Evo IX now domiciled in the Czech Republic and Spain’s EPM entering a converted Mitsubishi EVO 5 in competition in Spain.

Meanwhile, it’s not just converted CNG vehicles entering competition mode. Volkswagen has made an impressive commitment entering high performance CNG Sciroccos into track events in Germany and Sweden, including a second placing in the Swedish touring car championship. Taking it one step further, Volkswagen will next year commence a ‘one make’ event consisting entirely of biomethane fuelled CNG Sciroccos. VW launches CNG …

World Records

Still on the track, the world’s fastest CNG passenger vehicle, a 700 hp Audi A4, clocked 364.6 km/h at the Nürburgring F1 racetrack in Germany. Fuelled by biomethane the success was verified by the Guinness Book of World Records – CNG converted Audi …

Also verified by Guinness was the world’s largest public CNG filling station with 44 dispensers inaugurated in Singapore earlier this year – World’s largest … The station is the third to claim the world record in two years, with previous records being held in Thailand and Peru.

Meanwhile, determined to cover more miles than a NASA astronaut, ‘Restless Rainer’ Zietlow borrows the keys and takes the car for another drive. After an 80 day warm up, visiting 815 CNG filling stations in Germany in a VW Passat TSI EcoFuel, he drives a VW Caddy EcoFuel from the Atlantic to the Pacific across Europe and Asia and in January will tackle South and North America – Zietlow takes long way …

AT&T announces world’s largest single commitment to NGVs

$US350 Million spend on 8,000 NGVs over 10 years, 1,000 new or saved jobs for the next five years. AT&T ’sends signal’ not just to auto makers but policy makers and fleet operators worldwide – AT&T Commits …

It’s easy being green…

Honda Civic GX proves it is easy being Green – taking home the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Greenest Vehicle award for the 6th year in a row – Honda Civic … Just one of several environmental awards picked up by NGVs this year.

Dixie Chopper lawnmower – It IS easy being green with natural gas…

Meanwhile, Dixie Chopper unveils the world’s first CNG powered lawnmower proving that almost anything on wheels can be run on natural gas and taking care of a significant air pollution menace at the same time. Air pollution from cutting grass for one hour with a gasoline-powered mower is nearly equivalent to that from a 350-mile automobile trip! – Dixie Chopper …

Fiat purchase of Chrysler

So far it’s had no impact on natural gas vehicles whatsoever but with Fiat’s proven commitment to natural gas vehicles it’s surely just a matter of time before the culture spreads.

Volvo Bi-fuels Make a Welcome Return

Just in time for Christmas, Volvo bi-fuel vehicles can be found on showroom floors again. Yes, you do have to go to Sweden to buy one and yes, it is a converted vehicle BUT, it is endorsed by Volvo Cars Sweden who calls it ‘the second best solution’ after a factory built vehicle. That means buyers can buy with confidence knowing that the conversion has not affected the warranty. It also means there could be hope for international markets as well – knowing that there are still signs of an NGV ‘culture’ within Volvo Cars, who knows what might happen once Ford Motor Company finds a willing buyer for the company? Volvo Breakthrough…

STOP PRESS – Volvo Trucks Announce Euro V Dual-Fuel Trucks for 2010

Another Christmas present for the industry,,  – Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director of Volvo Trucks declares that “Methane gas is by far the most accessible fuel as an alternative to diesel” at the same time as he announces plans for Volvo Trucks to launch dual-fuel natural gas/diesel product in 2010.

Biomethane

Already mentioned in the motorsports section above, biomethane continues to prove itself in a variety of applications as the ultimate renewable transport fuel.

Let’s see what 2010 has in store for us!

(Este artículo también está disponible en Español)

Print PDF