Kögel Extends CNG Range with Trailer Module

| Germany, Burtenbach

Kögel trailer with CNG module for extended range.

Kögel Trailer GmbH & Co. KG, a commercial vehicle body and trailer manufacturer based in Germany, has created a compressed natural gas (CNG) module to suit many Kögel semi-trailers, that triples the range of gas-powered trucks. The trailer module acts as an additional storage unit for natural gas. CNG trucks can now for the first time be used in regional and long-distance traffic. Carriers do not only benefit from the extended range, but also from the lower life cycle costs and the reduced CO2 emissions. Read more »

APCNGI and KANGV Sign Cooperation MOU

| Indonesia and Korea

The Korean Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (KANGV) of Seoul, Korea and Asosiasi Perusahaan CNG Indonesia (APCNGI) of Jakarta, Indonesia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that expresses interest in sharing information and cooperating on international projects related to the development of the industry in Korea and Indonesia. Read more »

Port of Hamburg Embraces LNG-Fuelled Norwegian Experience

| Germany, Hamburg | Source: Port Strategy

Progressing its goal to accommodate liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuelled shipping, Germany’s Port of Hamburg has welcomed the KV Barentshav’, a Norwegian coast guard vessel which has been in operation since 2009, into port. Port Strategy reports the arrival marked the first visit by an LNG-powered ship to the port, which occurred as part of the “LNG – the Norwegian Experience” conference organised by the German-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, Innovation Norway and the classification society DNV Germany. Read more »

New Flyer Delivers 4,000th CNG Bus

| Canada, Winnipeg

New Flyer Industries Inc., manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in Canada and the United States, recently delivered its 4,000th compressed natural gas (CNG) bus. New Flyer has been building natural gas buses since 1994, developing and installing its own CNG fuel system, with more than 60 transit systems operate New Flyer CNG buses today. Read more »

NGV2012 Bologna a Successful Meeting Place

| Italy, Bologna

A Subaru Outback BoxerCNG at the Bologna event

Approximately 2,500 visitors took part in NGVA Europe’s NGV2012 Bologna Conference and Exhibition in Italy last week, including government, commercial and association representatives from 40 countries. Claudio Kohan, director of NGV Communications Group which organised the event, declared at the end: “We are really satisfied with the results of NGV2012 Bologna and extremely grateful to the companies that, despite the economic crisis, confirmed their participation, showing their all-new state-of-the-art technologies.” Read more »

Omnitek Enters Agreement to Convert US Waste Vehicles to Natural Gas for Pilot Program

| USA, San Marcos CA

Omnitek Engineering Corporation, developer of natural gas engines and diesel-to-natural gas conversion systems, has entered into an agreement with a major United States refuse collection company to convert 21 diesel-powered refuse collection trucks to operate on compressed natural gas under an Experimental Permit issued by the California Air Resources Board to validate the durability of components and collect performance and emissions data. Terms were not disclosed. Read more »

Solbus and Gazprom Test LNG-fueled Buses

| Poland

One of the two Solbus LNG buses used in the trial

Test Outcome: LNG technology is safe and relatively easy to adopt

Solbus in partnership with GAZPROM Germania, a Berlin-based daughter company of GAZPROM, and Polish municipal transport companies organized a series of demo-runs of LNG buses during April and May. Two Solbus LNG buses have made over 12 thousand kilometers when servicing regular lines in the host cities of Torun, Gdynia, Olsztyn, Warsaw, Cracow and Katowice. The buses were refueled from the mobile LNG station delivered by Gazprom Germania. Read more »

Hungarian NGV Association Joins NGVA Europe

| Hungary, Budapest | Source: NGVA Europe

NGVA Europe EU Affairs Manager, Matthias Maedge visits Hungary driving a Fiat Punto Natural Power (Jan 2012)

The Hungarian Natural Gas Vehicle Association, known as MGKKE (Magyar Gázüzemű Közlekedés Klaszter Egyesület) is a cluster of companies dedicated to promoting the use of clean and environmentally friendly gas-powered vehicles, including natural gas, biomethane and hydrogen, through shared resources and collective lobbying. Formed in April 2011, the company has attracted membership interest from a range of stakeholders including major gas suppliers, OEMs and scientific institutions. NGVA Europe reports the Hungarian association has now joined its own ranks. Read more »

Westport and GM Second Agreement for Light Duty NGVs

| Canada, Vancouver BC

Westport Innovations Inc., Canadian natural gas engines manufacturer, has entered into an additional agreement with General Motors for a second advanced technology development program. Westport and GM are now developing two different combustion, controls and emissions approaches to natural gas engines, with the first cooperative technology project, focused on natural gas light duty vehicles (LDVs), being announced in June 2011. Read more »

Peterbilt Adds Westport ISX12 G to Natural Gas Engine Range

| USA, Denton TX

The Peterbilt 320 will be offered with the ISX12 G engine from 2013.

Peterbilt Motors Company will offer the new Cummins Westport ISX12 G in 2013. This engine will be rated up to 400hp and 1,450 pounds of torque. It features spark ignition technology, a 3-way catalyst, and can be configured with a liquefied (LNG) or compressed (CNG) natural gas fuel system. Peterbilt’s three dedicated natural gas engine platforms offer an efficient and clean technology that will benefit customers in a wide range of applications. Read more »

Westport WiNG Assembly Center Opens for Ford Bi-Fuel Pickup Trucks

| USA, Louisville KY

Assembly line in the Westport WiNG Facility, Kentucky

Westport Innovations Inc., developer of natural gas engines, has officially opened the Westport Kentucky Integration Center (WKIC). Home to the new Westport™ WiNG Power System assembly center, this new facility is capable of installing up to 20,000 systems per year. ”Louisville was a natural choice for the location of our newest Westport facility,” said Douglas Mann, Director of Manufacturing, Westport LD. “Westport has had a warm welcome from the state and the community, and we’re very pleased to be supporting economic growth and establishing new jobs and technologies in the region.” Read more »

Yutong LNG Buses Highlighted in China Project Report

| China

China’s Ministry of Transport has published The 1st Supporting Project of Energy-saving and Emission Reduction in Transport and Transportation 2012, in which liquefied natural gas (LNG) buses are featured as a project highlight. For the energy-saving and emission reduction projects in Binhai of Tianjing, Baoding of Hebei province, Zhengjiang of Jiangsu province, Bengbu of Anhui province and so on, most of them adopted Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd (Yutong) LNG products. Read more »

Patrick Racing Brings Natural Gas to American Le Mans

| USA, Jackson MI and Braselton GA

Patrick Racing's LMPC entry vehicle for 2013

“Natural gas-powered cars … have a compelling story to tell, and we have the ability to tell that story at 200 mph.” Ralph Hansen, Pegasus Marketing

Embracing natural gas as a safe and abundant transportation fuel, the Patrick Racing Team has entered into an agreement with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), sanctioning body for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), to identify development and testing opportunities for the fuel system to power the Series’ Prototype Challenge class beginning in the 2013 season. Read more »

EMT Incorporates First CNG-Hybrids into Madrid Fleet

| Spain, Madrid

Castrosua Tempus CNG Hybrids joins EMT Fleet

Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid, S.A. (EMT)’s manager, Rafael Orihuela, has presented the first CNG-electric hybrid buses to join the Madrid urban fleet. Manufactured by Carrocera Castrosua S.A., based in Santiago de Compostela, seven (model) Tempus buses will operate in the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) of the capital, on line 41, which runs between Atocha and the Colony Manzanares. The presentation ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Madrid and president of EMT, Ana Botella. Read more »

German Letter of Intent Aims to Expand Hydrogen Stations to 50 by 2015

| Germany, Berlin

Signatories to the Hydrogen station Letter of Intent (Minister of Transport - BMVBS - holding document)

The German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development (BMVBS) and several industrial companies have signed a joint Letter of Intent to expand the network of hydrogen filling stations in Germany. Guided by the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP), the signatories are investing more than EUR 40 million (USD 50.7 million) to expand the country’s network of hydrogen filling stations from currently 15 to 50, by 2015. Read more »