Australia, Perth
Advanced Engine Components Limited (AEC) has made a positive start to 2009 with an order for almost US $800,000 of Natural Gas Vehicle System (NGVS) kits and associated engine components from Aussen Engine (Dalian) Co Ltd (Aussen) in China. Approximately US $325,000 of the order will be delivered in each of February and March 2009 with the balance in April 2009. The majority of required components are currently held in inventory.
Aussen is building compressed natural gas (CNG) engines for buses and trucks. The buses are for Wuhan Public Transport. Wuhan, with a population over 9 million, is the capital of Hubei Province. The trucks are for the Guizhou Province.
Negotiation is in final stages for delivery of a further US $400,000 NGVS kits to Wuxi Xilian Diesel Engine Manufacturing Co Ltd (Xilian), with delivery expected by 30 April 2009. The CNG engines, to be built by Xilian, are for the Nanjing Xincheng Bus Company. The proposed order follows that company’s satisfaction with fifty buses delivered in April 2008.
Following extensive trials, Xiamen Kinglong Bus Company in Shaoxing has purchased and taken delivery of ten Weichai WT 615 liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines from AEC. The buses are for Hangzhou Public Transportation Company (HPT). HPT currently operates over 3,500 vehicles, on more than 300 routes, covering more than 640 million passenger trips.
Guiyang Public Traffic Company has purchased forty buses with FAW DDE 230 hp AEC LNG engines from Huanghai Bus Company in Dandong. Guiyang is recognised for its environmentally friendly policies and at the end of 2007 had over 80% of China’s 700 LNG buses.
With approximately 400 natural gas vehicles using AEC kits in active service throughout China at the end of 2008, AEC predicts the number to at least double before 30 June 2009.
AEC reports its confidence in China’s NGV market is founded on the rapidly expanding network of CNG refueling stations (e.g. Wuhan currently has 30 CNG refueling stations with major CNG refueling operators recognising a need for at least 80 refueling stations to service Wuhan’s 6,000 buses and 20,000 taxis); positive steps being taken by China’s Government to stimulate the economy including expansion of the NG pipeline and support for the automotive industry; and central and local governments in China actively promoting the switch to clean NG energy for vehicles.
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