News for the natural gas for transportation industry worldwide
Volkswagen aims for 20 natural gas models by mid-2014; Gazprom Germania aims for 35 operating NG stations by late 2015
Volkswagen Motorsport and GAZPROM are to cooperate on the Volkswagen Scirocco RCup, the world’s only single-make race in which all vehicles are powered by natural gas. From May 2014, the Russian energy company will again be the exclusive motor-fuel supplier. GAZPROM will be represented by its logo at the opening races at Hockenheim (2-4 May). Read more »
The international Silk Way Rally (July 5-13) is over with a top-ten finish for a natural gas-fueled KAMAZ truck. The KAMAZ 4911 completed all seven stages of the race in less than 42 hours, just 5.5 hours behind the leader. Most of the 2,700 kilometer route ran off-road, through sands and steppes. Summing up the results of the race, the team finished eighth in the overall ranking of 22 trucks that completed the rally. Read more »
Gazprom and Russian truck manufacturer KAMAZ have entered a natural gas powered sport truck in this year’s Silk Way Rally. The truck was customized by the KAMAZ Master team with Gazprom’s assistance in order to promote natural gas use as a vehicle fuel. After two days of difficult off-road racing the team finds itself 9th in the overall ranking of truck vehicles after two stages. Read more »
Dr. D. Bruce McMahan and the Maxximus LNG 2000. (Photo: WRA )
The Maxximus LNG 2000, the brainchild of financier Bruce McMahan has been named winner of Car of the Year 2012 Award by the World Record Academy (WRA), the world’s largest organization which verify & certify world records. The natural gas vehicle has been recognized for its overall balance and the outstanding achievements in speed, fuel efficiency, dynamics and originality. Read more »
The Aston Martin aims for a CO2 emissions-free lap at the Nürburgring 24 Hours
Aston Martin will race a pioneering hybrid hydrogen car at the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring in May. The company claims the Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S – based on it’s new four-door, four-seat sports car – will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a race pace lap at the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Read more »
Johan Kristoffersson is STCC Champion for 2012
The 2012 Swedish Touring Car Championship has been hotly contested all year, with two teams, each racing two biomethane-powered VW Scirocco, helping to create a suspense filled finish. After race seven of an eight-race season Volkswagen Team Biogas (Team biogas.se) driver Johan Kristoffersson needed two wins from the final two races at Solvalla to take out the championship. Driver skill, teamwork, VW design and biomethane-generated power (280 Nm, 310 hp) triumphed on the day. Read more »
The CNG-powered Formula Racer sets new mileage and endurance record
Oklahoma State University’s OKstate Racing team set a new 24-hour mileage and endurance record at the Hallett Racing Circuit again this year with their compressed natural gas (CNG) powered Formula race car, completing 428 laps by Monday morning, or 100 more laps (180 miles – 290 kms) more than the record that was set last year.“Our improved tuning put more power to our suspension. We fought suspension failures all 24 hours, but we persevered. What a team!” said Jim Beckstrom, OKstate Racing team adviser, who is also thanking all those who supported the program this year. Read more »
The Volkswagen squad pocketed two podium finishes in the seventh Scandinavian Touring Car Championship race weekend. In the first race around the Knutstorp track it was Swede Patrik Olsson of IPS Team Biogas who took second place with his Scirocco CNG, also finishing fourth in Race 2. In the second race Jordi Gené (Spain) of Volkswagen Team Biogas mounted the podium for IPS Team Biogas thanks to his third place. Gené also achieved sixth place in Race 1. Read more »
Biomethane power on display at Östersund
Swedish Touring Car Championship (STCC) season leader Johan Kristoffersson, driving a biomethane powered VW Motorsport Scirocco, and last season champion Rickard Rydell in a Chevrolet Cruze, remain locked in a struggle for dominance after exciting races last weekend at the Östersund circuit in Sweden. Read more »
VW Sciroccos racing at Mantorp Park
The Swedish Touring Car Championship held an event last weekend at the Mantorp Park circuit in Mjölby Municipality, Sweden. A victory and a fourth place by Johan Kristoffersson, driving a biomethane-powered VW Motorsport Scirocco for Team biogas.se sees him at the top of the championship ladder. After 4 of 8 events in 2012, Kristoffersson leads last year’s winner by 9 points. Read more »
