Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a developer of natural gas storage systems, has recently delivered several pre-production units of an advanced Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel storage and delivery system, including the control software for the fuel system and engine, to ZHRO (ZHRO™ Solutions LLC, based in Chandler, Arizona) as part of an on-going development agreement between the two companies. These systems are coupled with ZHRO’s natural gas injection/engine conversion system and are being used as part of a pre-production test fleet at ZHRO and will be used for both on-road testing on heavy duty trucks as well as bench testing.
To date, Quantum has received approximately USD 6.0 million in development contracts from ZHRO and the delivery of these pre-production units represents a continuation of the work to develop a fully-integrated CNG storage and fuel delivery system for robust and cost-effective aftermarket conversions of heavy duty diesel fleets to run on natural gas. The fuel system module being developed by Quantum includes its high capacity ultra-lightweight Q-Lite™ CNG fuel storage tanks, the integration of all the fuel delivery components and the control software to operate the fuel system. In addition, Quantum is overseeing the development of the engine control software in order to operate the engine efficiently with ZHRO’s fuel injection system.
The production systems are planned to be delivered to ZHRO in the second half of 2014. ZHRO has developed an operating and marketing model to accelerate the commercial launch of their breakthrough technology and has already contracted with a significant number of North American distributors for sales and installation of ZHRO’s fuel injector/engine conversion system.
“We are excited about the delivery of these pre-production units and the overall development efforts as it marks a definitive path toward commercialization with ZHRO Solutions,” said Brian Olson, President and CEO of Quantum.
Under a strategic development agreement, Quantum and ZHRO are developing a cost-effective, complete natural gas aftermarket system solution for the nation’s estimated 4 million medium and heavy duty trucks currently running on expensive diesel fuel, enabling fleet operators to benefit from lower operating costs and a reduction in exhaust particulate matter and emissions made possible by a dedicated conversion to natural gas from diesel.
(Source: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc.)
