NGV Global

USA, Santa Ana, CA

Fuel Systems Solutions Completes Acquisition of Certain FuelMaker Assets and Purchase Orders

Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc. (FSYS) has completed the purchase of selected assets and technology for compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling products manufactured by FuelMaker Corporation, including the home refueling appliance marketed under the Phill(tm) brand, for $7.0 million as announced on May 1st. Manufacturing and service are to be relocated to Italy but the company has stated a committment to “fulfill certain FuelMaker service obligations and has assumed certain outstanding purchase orders”.

“Over the past two years, we have selectively acquired complementary businesses that support our business and broaden our opportunity. Our existing refueling solutions for large fleets and gas stations are augmented by the FuelMaker product line, which addresses both the consumer and smaller commercial markets. We are excited to continue to market and service Phill, which we believe we can deploy to existing markets using our global distribution network and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) relationships and to developing markets where the natural gas refueling infrastructure is limited, such as the United States.”

Those with inquiries about FuelMaker and Phill, please email sales@impcotechnologies.com or call (714) 656-1268 in North America or +39 (0172) 48681 outside of North America. Investors please continue to call LHA at (415) 433-3777.

“We have the gas here; the plant is the missing link.”

A clean and local alternative fuel supply forms the basis of a new proposal presented to industry leaders and transport operators in Australia’s South West Victoria, put together by industrial gas company BOC, the South West Sustainability Partnership and regional transport companies. The $150 million (USD $115 million) project calls for the establishment of a micro liquified natural gas (LNG) plant and up to six refuelling stations that will form a commercial pipeline-to-truck network for more than 120 heavy duty vehicles.

A Logistics magazine article states the proposed plant would have the capacity to produce 50 tonnes of LNG a day, the equivalent of 70,000 litres of conventional diesel.

South West Sustainability Partnership Executive Officer, Barrie Baker, and BOC General Manager LNG, Alex Dronoff, recently met industry leaders in Warrnambool to discuss the proposal, which is said to have already attracted positive interest. “We have the gas here; the plant is the missing link,” he says.

A similar micro LNG plant – the first in Australia – is in the process of being developed in Tasmania (see graphic above) . Similar plants in USA and England are producing, liquefied gas is made from recycled landfill gases.

NB – Alex Dronoff from BOC is speaking at the upcoming Gaseous Fuels Conference in Melbourne on June 15 2009.

India, Mumbai

Mahindra and Mahindra has launched yet another CNG variant of one of their popular lines onto the Indian market, with the release of the compressed natural gas (CNG) version of the Maxx Maxi Truck. The vehicle complies with BS III (Euro 3) emission norms and has a range of 250 kms. Senior Vice-President Marketing Automotive Sector Vivek Nayer told reporters that since its launch in 2006, the Maxx Maxi Truck has been the growth driver in the four wheeler small load category and the CNG variant will add significantly to it. Details of the 69.5 hp truck can be found here. In 2008, Mahindra also launched the CNG version of its Bolero pick-up, the Bolero Pik-Up FB CNG.

USA, Temecula CA

Downs Energy, a local petroleum distribution and marketing company headquartered in Corona, CA, is to hold an official “Grand Opening Ceremony” of its 24-hour Liquefied/Compressed Natural Gas (L/CNG) fueling station located at 27985 Diaz Road in Temecula, CA on June 11th (10:00 AM). The L/CNG fueling station is part of the Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC) development project.

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Norway

Norway’s hydrogen highway, ‘HyNor‘, was officially opened at a ceremony held at StatoilHydro’s new hydrogen station at Økern in Oslo. A simultaneous opening was carried out at the hydrogen facility at StatoilHydro’s service station in Lier. Since 2003, StatoilHydro has been the driving force behind HyNor’s goal to establish a hydrogen transportation infrastructure along the nearly 600-kilometre route between Oslo and Stavanger. The first hydrogen station was opened at Forus in Stavanger in 2006, the second in Porsgrunn in 2007. The purpose of the project is to lay the foundation for a broad testing of hydrogen in the transport sector in Norway.

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