Category: Alternative Fuels

AFVi Survey: Adopting Alternative Fuel Vehicles is Top Strategy – Natural Gas Dominant Preference

July 25, 2010 – 2:32 pm | USA

At 34%, natural gas dominates survey responses.

The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute, which organized the Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference + Expo 2010, has released the results of a survey, in which participants were asked about one policy or initiative that their company is using to green their fleet. 89% said incorporating, expanding and/or replacing existing vehicles with “alternative fuel vehicles” is their top strategy. Of those that indicated a preferred fuel type, natural gas was the dominant preference, attracting 34% of respondents ahead of 6 other fuels.
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NGVAmerica Amongst Joint Voices Urging Obama to Develop US Clean Energy Plan

July 1, 2010 – 3:36 pm | USA

US President Obama talks with BP Chairman Svanberg in the Oval Office, June 16 2010

Last week U.S. President Obama addressed the nation on the oil catastrophe resulting from the April 20 explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. NGVAmerica, joining 13 other national, regional and local organizations, took the opportunity to urge the President and the country to develop a comprehensive clean energy plan that would accelerate the use of alternatively fueled vehicles.
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US Groups to Coordinate Promotion of Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicles

April 14, 2010 – 12:47 am | USA, Washington
HK MotorsChairman Dr. Yeung unveils the production facility plan layout in Alabama, September 2009

HK Motors Chairman Dr. Yeung unveils the production facility layout, Alabama, Sep '09.

The American Public Gas Association (APGA), NGVAmerica, and Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corporation (HK Motors) has announced the formation of a strategic collaboration to promote the mass production and sales of natural gas-powered hybrid passenger vehicles. HK Motors plans to begin producing a family of light-duty natural gas hybrid-electric passenger vehicles at its plant in Alabama beginning in 2013. Natural gas hybrids will use similar electric-drive technology to gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles available today, only natural gas will be the power source rather than gasoline.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Business, Infrastructure, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

AFVi Survey Shows Fleet Tide Moving Toward AFVs

April 9, 2010 – 11:45 pm | USA

US consulting and technical training firm Alternative Fuel Vehicle Institute (AFVi) has carried out a phone survey of 135 companies with fleets ranging in size from 70 to 72,000 vehicles. The survey showed almost half of fleets plan to purchase alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) in the next three years. By fleet size, these companies are in the top 10 percent of all commercial companies in the U.S. Important considerations included availability of right alternative fuel vehicle, fuel availability, return on investment and environmental concerns.

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Bangladesh NGV Operators Stand to Benefit from ADB Loan for Gas Network Expansion

March 29, 2010 – 12:33 am | Bangladesh

CNG Refuelling in DhakaThe approval of loans to the value of $266 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help Bangladesh address natural gas supply constraints in a bid to spur economic growth and cut poverty could have far-reaching benefits for the country’s natural gas vehicle industry. “This project will address priority supply and network constraints to ensure sustained growth in the gas sector that is critical to the country’s economic development,” said Priyantha Wijayatunga, Energy Specialist in ADB’s South Asia Department.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Country Reports, Infrastructure, Market Developments | Tags: , | Comments (0)

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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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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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Biomethane, Policy | Tags: , , , , | Comments (0)

US Methane Hydrate Report Issued

January 29, 2010 – 10:05 pm | USA

Methane hydrate vein in sediment (NETL image)

“Naturally occurring methane hydrate may represent an enormous source of methane, the main component of natural gas, and could ultimately augment conventional natural gas supplies,” says a new congressionally mandated report from the US National Research Council. Although a number of challenges require attention before commercial production can be realized, no technical challenges have been identified as insurmountable, the report says. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Methane Hydrate Research and Development Program has made considerable progress in the past five years toward understanding and developing methane hydrate as a possible energy resource.
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Honda Begins Operation of New Solar Hydrogen Station

January 28, 2010 – 10:09 pm | USA, Torrance CA

Honda's Next Generation Solar Hydrogen Station Prototype

Los Angeles-based Station to Re-fuel Honda Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle

Honda began operation of a next generation Solar Hydrogen Station prototype at the Los Angeles Center of Honda R&D Americas, Inc., intended for ultimate use as a home refueling appliance capable of an overnight refill of fuel cell electric vehicles. Designed as a single, integrated unit to fit in the user’s garage, the station reduces the size of the system, while producing enough hydrogen (0.5kg) via an 8-hour overnight fill for daily commuting (10,000 miles per year) for a fuel cell electric vehicle.
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Dual-Fuel Critical Issues Workshop in Brussels

January 27, 2010 – 5:37 pm | Source: Dr. Jeffrey M. Seisler, CEO Clean Fuels Consulting

Dual-fuel (Gaseous/Diesel) Engines – Opportunities, Challenges & Strategies to Expand the Market – the third in the series of Critical Issues Workshops – Brussels, Belgium on 30 & 31 March 2010

This forum aims to identify and explore the most important technology, marketing and regulatory issues related to gaseous fuelled (natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas – LPG) ‘dual-fuel’ diesel engines. Engine experts, fleet operators and government regulatory specialists will meet in Brussels to discuss the range of different dual-fuel technologies, operating experiences and regulatory issues that must be addressed in order to overcome the market entry challenges faced by these economic and low polluting engine technologies. Speakers and the audience will participate in an open dialogue designed to create a strategy that encourages the development of a new regulatory framework to allow the certification of dual-fuel gaseous engine systems and results in increased worldwide market penetration of dual-fuel engines and vehicles.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Events, Marketplace, Upcoming, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

Sweden’s First Garbage Truck to Run on Biogas and Biodiesel

January 25, 2010 – 1:04 am | Sweden
The dual-fuel Dennis Eagle garbage truck operated by Renova

Renova's biogas-converted Dennis Eagle garbage truck

Kungsbacka Municipality, in cooperation with Renova,  a major recycling company of West Sweden, has received the first of eight new dual-fuel trucks operating on biomethane (refined biogas) and biodiesel – the first in the country, according to Renova CEO, Christian Baarlid, who added,  “It is largely thanks to the municipality’s “green procurement” with clear environmental standards that we are now able to present this unique environment garbage truck. This is an important milestone for a better environment in the transport and logistics sector.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Biomethane, Market Developments, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

Electric Plug-in CNG Hybrid Bus Unveiled by Ashok Leyland

January 13, 2010 – 2:01 am | India, New Delhi

Ashok Leyland Ltd, India’s second largest commercial vehicle maker, has unveiled the HYBUS, the country’s first electric plug-in CNG hybrid bus, at New Delhi’s Auto Expo 2010. The series-hybrid HYBUS concept vehicle combines a conventional CNG engine with an electric propulsion system. The engine is operated at optimal efficiency to drive the generator for charging the on-board battery. The Lithium-Ion battery that powers the electrical drive system provides the propulsion. Compared to a conventional bus, the HYBUS promises to offer fuel savings of 20-30 percent.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Fleets, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , , , | Comments (0)

Volvo Trucks Declares Itself First Manufacturer of Efficient Dual-Fuel Euro V Engine

December 15, 2009 – 1:43 am | Sweden
Volvo carried out alternative fuel testing in 2007

One of Volvo Trucks' vehicles that carried out alternative fuel testing in 2007

“Methane gas is by far the most accessible fuel as an alternative to diesel.” – Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director Volvo Trucks

80% methane replacement expected after engine refinement and testing

Volvo Trucks is staking a claim in the heavy-duty natural gas vehicle arena, announcing it will be the first manufacturer with an ‘efficient’  natural gas diesel dual-fuel engine meeting Euro V exhaust emission standards (introduced in 2009). Field testing will start in Sweden and the UK in 2010. “This unique technology allows us to combine the advantages of gas with the diesel engine’s high efficiency rating, which is about 30-40 percent superior to that of the spark plug engine,” comments Lars Mårtensson, Environmental Director Volvo Trucks. “As a result, this truck consumes considerably less energy than traditional gas trucks do.”
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Biomethane, Emissions, Engines, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Technology, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , , | Comments (5)

10 New CNG Iveco Dailys for TNT Swiss Post

November 8, 2009 – 8:23 am | Source: Erdgasfahren | Switzerland, Geneva
TNT Swiss Post CNG Iveco Daily Vans

TNT Swiss Post CNG Iveco Daily Vans

TNT Swiss Post, a company jointly established by TNT Express and Swiss Post International, has increased the natural gas vehicle (NGV) count in the Geneva region, adding ten new compressed natural gas (CNG)  powered Iveco Daily Turbo vans last month to their fleet. Erdgasfahren reports the CNG Iveco performs as well as the diesel equivalent Thus, the Iveco Daily CNG Turbo performs on a par with the diesel equivalent model but has attained Environmentally Enhanced Vehicle (EEV) status under Euro 5 emissions norms due to its low emissions. With Switzerland being a significant user of biogas in its distribution networks, the 10 Ivecos are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by around 5 tonnes per annum relative to diesel equivalents.

Categories: Alternative Fuels, Biomethane, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Fleets, Market Developments | Tags: , | Comments (0)

US National Academy of Sciences Report Highlights Benefits of NGVs

November 8, 2009 – 7:54 am | Source: NGVAmerica | USA

Electric and plug-in electric vehicles worse than gasoline on emissions pollutants

Last month, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released a report that attempts to evaluate the externalities associated with energy production and use in the U.S.  The report, entitled Hidden Costs of Energy: Unpriced Consequences of Energy Production and Use, was prepared at the request of the U.S. Congress.  It analyzes different energy sectors and develops cost estimates for damages associated with criteria pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions.  The report did not quantify costs associated with energy security.  For transportation, the results are presented in terms of the cost per vehicle mile traveled.  Supporting data is presented in terms of grams of pollution per mile largely using the Argonne Laboratories GREET model.  The assessment includes a review of the full fuel cycle emissions of different transportation fuels as well as the energy and fuel use associated with manufacturing different vehicle types.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Emissions, Technology | Tags: , , , | Comments (1)