Global inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS SA is the first inspection company in Spain to obtain authorization to conduct visual inspections of cylinders for compressed natural gas vehicles from the Departamento de Innovación, Universidades y Empresas de la Generalitat de Cataluña. The authorization comes at a time when natural gas transportation is experiencing rapid growth around the world.
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Monthly Archives: February 2010
SGS Accredited as Spain’s First Authorized Inspection Company for CNG Cylinders
February 28, 2010 – 4:01 pm
Spain
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Eco Mobiliste 2010 – NGVs Galore
February 26, 2010 – 7:11 pm
Switzerland, Geneva
The Fiat Punto Evo 1.4 CNG - EcoChampion 2010 - Small Cars category
One third of top eighty cars are natural gas / biogas vehicles
NGVs achieve 1st place in four categories
The 2010 edition of Eco Mobiliste (Ecomobiliste 2010 de l’ATE), published in time for the Geneva Motor Show, is once again populated with large numbers of natural gas / biogas vehicles. Among the ten best vehicles, five are NGVs. A third of the top 80 vehicles are NGVs; by comparison only four are hybrids.
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Arrow CNG Compressor Enters NGV Fuelling Market
February 26, 2010 – 3:07 pm
USA, Bloomfield Hills, MI
TriMas Corporation (TMC), a diversified global manufacturer of engineered and applied products, has announced that Oklahoma-based Arrow Engine Company (Arrow), part of the company’s energy segment, has introduced a newly designed two-throw separable reciprocating gas compressor for use in the compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling market. The VRC-CNG compressor is rated up to 125-horsepower and is capable of four stages of compression.
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GAIL and Eden Unite for Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas Bus Trial
February 24, 2010 – 3:52 pm
India’s natural gas distributor GAIL (India) Ltd is to join with an Australian firm Eden Energy Ltd (Eden) in what could be the largest trial of a hydrogen-enriched blend of natural gas (HCNG) for transport. Descibing the trial as commercial in scale, Eden says the project is designed to reduce pollution levels from India’s massive public transport bus fleets. The trial is expected to see between 50-70 buses on the streets of Mumbai, a city of some 16 million people, by the end of this year.
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Ohio Alternative Fuel Program ($29M) Cleared to Go
February 24, 2010 – 12:25 pm
USA, Ohio
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has cleared Clean Fuels Ohio to begin its work with the Ohio Advanced Transportation Partnership (OATP), reports Green Car Congress. The project will carry out more than $29 million in alternative fuel vehicle and infrastructure projects—the largest single investment in advanced transportation energy infrastructure and vehicle technology in the state’s history, according to Sam Spofforth, Executive Director of Clean Fuels Ohio.
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GasHighWay Project Initiates National Reports on Biogas Production
February 24, 2010 – 11:39 am
Europe
Includes statements on the impact of biomethane use for transport
Within the GasHighWay project implementation each country (excluding Sweden) has developed its national report on the current status of biogas production as well as identification of legal and other important conditions for biogas upgrading potential. National reports also inform on market trends and biogas/biomethane production forecast. These reports provide an overview of the biogas situation in each participating country, and include statements about implications for transport. Country reports are available for Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy and Poland, from here.
Clean Energy’s LNG Refuelling Network to Expand
February 23, 2010 – 11:09 pm
USA, Seal Beach, CA
Ten-Station Network in Urban Centers and Along Major Truck Routes
Foundation for Southwestern US LNG network
Clean Energy Fuels Corp., a provider of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for transportation in North America, plans to expand its existing network of liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling stations in Southern California this year beyond its current two LNG stations located at the Los Angeles/Long Beach ports complex. New or upgraded Clean Energy LNG fueling facilities are planned for strategic points along truck transport routes in the California cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Industry, Fontana, Riverside, Tulare, Barstow, and Otay Mesa/San Diego. This hub of stations will form the backbone upon which Clean Energy intends to expand its LNG fueling efforts into the Southwestern region of the United States.
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ISO Approves Natural Gas Fuelling Station Standards Project
February 23, 2010 – 9:05 pm
Switzerland, Geneva
Efforts to develop international standards for natural gas fuelling stations have moved one step closer with the International Standards Organisation (ISO) Technical Management Board (TMB) deciding earlier this month to establish a new Project Committee. The decision follows recommendations arising from last month’s preliminary meeting of stakeholders held in Zurich, Switzerland, which agreed with the need for separate standards on compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations for fuelling vehicles. ISO numbers have yet to be assigned to the standards but drafting is already under way and a first meeting of the Project Committee is planned for the Netherlands on 22nd and 23rd June of 2010.
Positive Vote in Brussels Supporting NGVs
February 23, 2010 – 11:45 am
Source: NGVA Europe Belgium, Brussels
The Environment Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament has voted on various suggested amendments in a report on the Future of Transport, to which NGVA Europe was contributing as a stakeholder. During the meeting the majority of the ENVI Committee members also voted in favour of Amendment ‘32’, which…
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New Chevrolet Aveo CNG Continues GM India’s Drive for Market Share
February 23, 2010 – 12:04 am
Source: Amit Bhawani
GM-India's Aveo CNG
The new environmentally friendly and cost efficient Chevrolet Aveo CNG, launched at the recent 2010 India Auto Expo, is expected to be well received by the growing city-based NGV community in that country. Introducing more CNG models is part of GM India’s stategy to increase market share in the aftermath of the ‘trage of the bankruptcy process’ – “GM will continue to remain aggressive in India in order to take advantage of opportunities as they arise,” said Mr. Karl Slym, President & Managing Director, General Motors India in a GM India press release from mid-2009.
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Stimulus Funds to Benefit Nebraska NGVs
February 19, 2010 – 11:06 am
Source: USA, Nebraska
The US State of Nebraska is set to increase both natural gas infrastructure and natural gas vehicle numbers, thanks to a $650,000 grant proposal being considered by the Nebraska Environmental Trust. In recognition of the need to stimulate supply and demand if the State is to take advantage of the environmental and economical advantages of natural gas, the two-year grant will assist the Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD) encourage natural gas transportation in the cities of Omaha and Lincoln.
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Study: Biomethane Benefits Could be Greater than Previously Thought
February 19, 2010 – 12:38 am
Source: NGVAmerica Sweden
Biomethane from refuse produces 95 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline, cites NGVAmerica from a Lund University (Sweden) research group report. Further, with a few simple improvements to a typical biomethane plant, the figure can rise to 120 per cent – that is, biomethane becomes better than climate neutral. In Sweden, there are about 20 similar plants to the one analyzed, producing biomethane for use in cars and other vehicles.
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Analysis of Biogas Use Recognises Vehicle Fuel as Most Carbon Efficient
February 19, 2010 – 12:05 am
United Kingdom
Using biogas as vehicle fuel has a carbon saving of -97 kgCO²eqv
Following an analysis of different uses for biogas, Bristol-based research firm Eunomia has found using biogas to power vehicles had the lowest carbon footprint. Using biogas on-site in a combined heat and power (CHP) plant was next, then pumping gas into the grid was the next most efficient, according to a report from Lets Recycle. Consultant Ann Ballinger observed that despite use as a vehicle fuel being the most carbon efficient way of using biogas, and therefore having the most positive impact on climate change, there was no government support.
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AT&T Rolls Out 1,000th Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Another NGV
February 19, 2010 – 12:01 am
USA, Dallas TX
AT&T fleet Ford E-250 CNG Econoline
AT&T is celebrating the deployment of its 1,000th alternative-fuel vehicle in its corporate fleet – a E250 CNG Econoline van deployed in Oakland, California. The deployment is part of a $565 million planned investment announced in March 2009 to replace more than 15,000 fleet vehicles with more fuel-efficient models through 2018. More than half of the replacement fleet will be natural gas vehicles.
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Canadian Government and Stakeholders Partner to Develop NGV Roadmap
February 18, 2010 – 4:40 pm
Canada
Heavy transportation sector roadmap development will focus on natural gas for fuel
Canada has long been a leader in the development of advanced technologies for natural gas vehicles and refuelling infrastructure. Now, the Canadian story is about to open another chapter with news this week that government and industry stakeholders will partner to develop a deployment roadmap focusing on the opportunities for natural gas as a cost effective, lower emission fuel for the heavy transportation sector.
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