The Iran natural gas vehicle market continues to thrive. The current tally of compressed natural gas (CNG) service stations currently operating in Iran is now 1,820 reports Zawya. That figure is reportedly set to grow to 2,000 by the end of the Iranian calendar year (March 20). Approximately 18 million cubic meters of natural gas are supplied to CNG stations on a daily basis, with capacity to grow to 32 million. Iranian auto manufacturer IKCO is responding by advising 70% of its planned engine production for 2012, of some 180 thousand units and including the EF4 engine, will be CNG-based.
Category: Country Reports
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Venezuela’s Autogas Program Progresses NGV Assembly
January 16, 2012 – 8:22 pm
Venezuela
The Autogas program, a natural gas vehicle stimulus program managed by PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company, is making progress, reports entorno inteligente. Official Gazette No. 38967 (July 2008) declared the goal for percentage of vehicles to be assembled in the country equipped with a bi-fuel (natural gas-gasoline) system in 2011 was 50%. According to the report, the target was almost achieved, with 48% being converted to bi-fuel operation. The Cámara Automotriz de Venezuela has issued figures to show that in 2011, 43 875 vehicles were equipped to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). The percentage calculation does not include diesel powered vehicles which fall outside the program.
CNG Stations in Gujarat Now Largest in India
December 28, 2011 – 3:30 am
Source: DNA India, Gujarat
Current CNG Stations in the Gujarat's capital city of Surat (image: Gujarat Gas)
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has released figures to show that the state of Gujarat has outstripped growth in all other regions including the National Capital Region (NCR) for the number of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations, reports DNA. Of the 724 CNG stations operating across the country at the end of November 2011, Gujarat reportedly has 258, or one third of the total. New Delhi has 239, while Maharashtra follows next with 164.
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900th CNG Filling Station for Germany
December 21, 2011 – 3:59 pm
Source: Gibgas Germany
Germany’s 900th compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station is now officially operating, located in the capital city of Berlin, reports Gibgas, an independent consumer portal. Gibgas managing director, Birgit Maria Wöber, says “the currently available infrastructure can provide basic care for the fuel CNG / Natural Gas in Germany”, adding that with reasonable planning the whole of Germany can now be driven using natural gas vehicles. The report adds that 21% of all CNG filling stations offer a natural gas/biomethane mix to varying ratios. 38 stations offer pure biomethane (renewable natural gas) which produces virtually no CO2 emissions.
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Natural Gas Cars Dominate Clean Energy Sales in South Korea
August 17, 2011 – 2:29 am
Source: Utility Products South Korea
Korea’s Ministry of Environment has released figures for alternative energy car sales, aggregating to 48,561 as at the end of last year, reports Utility Products. 55% of sales, amounting to 26,894 units, are natural gas vehicles. In response to the government’s “green growth” policy, sales have curved upward and are gathering momentum. The report states the government spent about 380.9 billion won (US$355 million) during 2000-2010 to replace up to 4,000 gasoline-powered city buses and garbage trucks with natural gas vehicles every year during the period, the ministry said. A total of 3,275 natural gas buses and trucks were apparently adopted last year alone.
France’s AFGNV Website Refreshed
August 8, 2011 – 4:21 am
The French Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (AFGNV) has recently launched a ‘new-look’ website, implementing the recommendation of its General Assembly to provide improved access to natural gas vehicle information for the public. Members of the Association will be able to access the work of the Committees and technical groups. The website has a list of CNG stations open to the public across France, including recent openings in Bordeaux and Cuzon, and four new stations in Rhône-Alpes in March where approximately 20% of France’s NGVs are located. (Go to www.afgnv.info)
IMW Comments on China Experience
June 20, 2011 – 7:42 pm
China
Urumqi in Western China has experienced "incredible" NGV growth
IMW Industries, manufacturer and supplier of turn-key fueling systems for CNG stations and bulk CNG systems, has now completed construction of more than 100 CNG stations in China, as well as numerous CNG stations throughout the Asia Pacific region, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and South Korea. As a company immersed in China since 2000 and establishing a sales/service hub in Shanghai in 2006, IMW has had opportunity to observe, appreciate and comment on development of the natural gas industry in this dynamic country, as follows.
Switzerland Records Increased Use of Natural Gas/Biomethane
March 31, 2011 – 12:52 pm
Switzerland
Natural gas sales in Switzerland increased nearly 12 percent in 2010, in part due to the more widespread use of natural gas and biomethane for vehicle fuel. This fuel displaced an equivalent amount of 22 million liters of gasoline, an increase of 18.4% over the previous year. The biogas proportion was 20%. The number of CNG vehicles rose within a year to around 9,600. The service station network in Switzerland now includes 126 stations.
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Commercial NGV Sales Grow in Italy
March 20, 2011 – 12:58 pm
Source: MetAuto Magazine Italy
In 2010, sales of commercial vehicles powered by natural gas increased by 60.5% over 2009 in Italy, reports MetAuto magazine, compared with overall commercial vehicle sales growth of just 6.16% for the same period. Government incentives are credited for the strong growth in the first quarter of 2010. Although the first quarter of 2011 is not expected to be as high as 2010, indications are that from April onward sales will again show improvement over previous-year figures.
Dhaka and Delhi Dialogue Explores NGV Experience
February 23, 2011 – 3:22 pm
Source: CSE: Centre for Science and Environment Bangladesh and India
India’s Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of Bangladesh, organized an experience sharing dialogue on “Improving quality and performance of natural gas vehicle programme in South Asia” on 20 January 2011 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. This is part of a dialogue series initiated by CSE to strengthen and facilitate inter-regional exchange of ideas on key strategies to combat pollution and public health crisis in the region.
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Major Commercial NGV Sales Growth in Italy for 2010
February 18, 2011 – 12:25 pm
Source: asca Italy, Rome
In 2010, sales of commercial natural gas vehicles in Italy rose by 60.5% over 2009, a significant result given the overall growth of vehicle sales in the same period was only 6.16%, reports asca. The information was supplied by l’Osservatorio Metanauto, a methane research facility headed by Federmetano, the national association of distributors and transporters of natural gas. The growth was in part stimulated in the first quarter of 2010 by government incentives.
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NGV Achievement Celebrated in Peru
January 23, 2011 – 4:24 am
Source: La República Peru, Lima
Most natural gas conversions in Peru have been for taxis.
100 000 vehicles converted to natural gas
In 2006, Peru set itself a ten-year target of reaching 50,000 natural gas vehicles in the country by 2016. Early in January this year, President Alan Garcia celebrated with his country the achievement of that goal being reached twice-over in half the time — 100,000 NGVs, reported La República. According to the Peruvian Chamber of Natural Gas Vehicles (CPGNV), 75% of vehicles converted to CNG are used for taxi transport. 839 new buses have also been funded.
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GasHighWay Posts Gas Filling Stations Analyses
November 18, 2010 – 4:01 pm
Europe
The GasHighWay Project reports that all partners have analysed the status of the gas filling station network and the need for further refuelling stations and their optimal locations at country level. The analyses are based on available information on vehicle travel patterns, and network expansion strategies have been developed also taking into account geographic distributions of natural gas grid and of biomethane feedstock. Reports from Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Italy are available from the GasHighWay website.
Latin America NGV Updates
November 5, 2010 – 10:26 am
Source: Latamgas Dominican Republic and Colombia
NGV growth in the Dominican Republic marks the country’s commitment to modernization of public and private transport, with Latamgas reporting the presence of 1200 natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and three filling stations by October this year. There are also two conversion workshops. Latamgas also reports 315,405 NGVs in Colombia as at August 2010. Drivers there are achieving up to 50% saving over the purchase price of gasoline.
Inaugural Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Summit Focuses on Opportunities
November 5, 2010 – 10:21 am
Canada
Natural Gas: clean, affordable and abundant energy to meet growing North American demand
Dropping the emissions odometer and fueling the domestic economy were the key themes driving the inaugural Encana-hosted Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Summit in Calgary, Alberta last week. The first of its kind in Canada, the October 28 summit attracted more than 100 delegates from municipalities, the service sector, upstream and trucking companies from across Canada and the U.S. The event featured speeches from industry leaders focused on market growth opportunities in a Canadian transportation sector predominantly fueled by less environmentally-friendly gasoline and diesel.
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