NGVAmerica, the trade association that represents the U.S. natural gas vehicle industry, hailed President Obama’s call for using more natural gas in the transportation sector. The President made this call last week at a United Parcel Service (UPS) facility in Las Vegas when he discussed his clean energy blueprint, first announced during the State of the Union address.
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Category: Policy
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Pakistan Government Acts Decisively to Address CNG Concerns
January 19, 2012 – 5:09 pm
Source: Online Pakistan, Islamabad
All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) delegation plays pivotal role
Following a long period of turmoil around natural gas supply for vehicle fuel and a string of incidents contentiously associated with compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel systems, a delegation of All Pakistan CNG Association (APCNGA) has met with Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani about CNG load shedding, gas pricing and gas infrastructure development surcharge issues, reports Online. Discussion also covered a natural gas vehicle (NGV) safety check campaign.
Sichuan Acts to Regulate NGV Development
January 13, 2012 – 3:40 pm
Source: Sichuan Daily News China, Sichuan
CNG refuelling (Image: Sinopec Sichuan)
The province of Sichuan in central China has taken steps to exercise more control over its burgeoning natural gas vehicle development with the introduction of safety management practices, effective 1st February, reports China Daily. According to the Legislative Affairs Office of Sichuan Provincial Government, the legislation clearly delineates corporate and government responsibilities and obligations, and establishes a coordinating Development and Reform Commission for professional regulation and monitoring.
Europe’s Energy Future – an Atlas of Roadmaps
December 20, 2011 – 9:24 pm
EU GHG Emissions to 2050. Transport is coloured green. (Source: EU)
On 15 December 2011, the European Commission (EC) adopted the Communication Energy Roadmap 2050. In October Eurogas (the European Union of the Natural Gas Industry) released its own Eurogas Roadmap 2050, seeking to inform the EC process. Earlier this year, in March the EC released Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system (COM(2011) 144 final ); and A Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050 (COM(2011) 112 final).
The collective emphasis of the Roadmaps is to achieve massive emissions reduction across all types of energy consumers through harmonised policy, planning and investment. The following extracts are drawn from the various documents and include comment from NGVA Europe and Eurogas.
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Gas Shortage Forces Ban on CNG Conversions in Pakistan
December 19, 2011 – 9:27 pm
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan) Pakistan, Islamabad
In the wake of current natural gas shortages in Pakistan that have affected supply across all industry consumers, the Economic Coordination Committee, a cabinet level committee responsible for final decisions relating to economy, has imposed an open-ended ban on the import of CNG cylinder and conversion kit, reports news agency APP. Under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, a ban has also been imposed on installation of new CNG kits in vehicles. Existing stocks are allowed to be utilized but not replaced.
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Strategic Framework Recognises Potential of Natural Gas as Alternative Fuel in Australia
December 19, 2011 – 9:25 pm
Australia
Toll Fleet Trucks refuelling at a newly opened CNG station in Altona, Vic.
“CNG has potential to be an effective alternative transport fuel for the light commercial vehicle market in Australia” – excerpt from Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels (Australian Government paper)
The Australian Government has released a draft Energy White Paper for public consultation, alongside the release of the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels. The draft paper sets out a series of proposed Commonwealth Government priorities to address challenges confronting Australia’s energy sector.
Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels establishes a long term strategic framework for the market development of alternative transport fuels in Australia in the context of maintaining Australia’s transport fuel security while moving towards a lower carbon economy by 2030. The document identifies key issues and provides a framework to address issues affecting future investment in, and the production and use of, alternative transport fuels including compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). This document informs the white paper discussion.
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Arkansas Extends CNG Conversion Rebate Program
December 16, 2011 – 2:15 am
USA, Arkansas
The Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), hasd decided to extend the acceptance period for the Compressed Natural Gas Conversion Rebate Program reservation requests through January 31, 2012, extended from December 31. In addition to the reservation deadline, the date to complete the actual conversion or purchase has been moved to April 30, 2012. There is currently approximately $1.3 million available in the program for rebates.
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Canada’s Natural Gas for Transportation Roadmap Launched
December 9, 2011 – 5:32 pm
Source: CNGVA Canada, Ottawa
In Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, industry and government representatives met December 9 to launch the implementation of a roadmap that will guide market development for natural gas as a transportation fuel in Canada. Facilitated by Natural Resources Canada, the kick-off meeting included representatives of Canada’s trucking, oil and gas, manufacturing, and transportation industries. The meeting was welcomed by the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA) as a major step forward for the Natural Gas Use in the Canadian Transportation Sector – Deployment Roadmap initiative developed by all stakeholder groups.
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Pennsylvania DEP Clarifies Natural Gas Conversion
December 6, 2011 – 4:00 am
USA, Harrisburg PA
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued technical guidance clarifying that natural gas conversions are authorized under the Pennsylvania Clean Vehicles Program. New passenger car or light-duty truck conversion systems certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Resources Air Board may be installed on vehicles in Pennsylvania. NGVAmerica has commented “this means increased access to NGVs since currently all light-duty bi-fuel vehicles available in the market are exclusively EPA certified”.
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Chickens & Eggs: Euro-policies on Alternative Fuel & NGV Infrastructures
November 27, 2011 – 7:14 pm
Source: Clean Fuels Consulting Europe
An Interview with Dr. Franz-Xavier Soeldner
Ahead of next month’s Clean Fuels Consulting Critical Issues Workshop, Chickens & Eggs: Opportunities, Challenges & Strategies Building the NGV Infrastructure on 7-8 December 2011 in Brussels, Dr. Franz-Xavier Soeldner, the Deputy Head of Unit, Clean Transport & Urban Transport at the Directorate General for Transportation (DG Tren), spoke to Jeffrey Seisler, CEO of Clean Fuels Consulting about the European Commission’s developing policies for alternative fuels, and specifically about the development of the NGV infrastructure.
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Four-State MOU to Prompt Development of NGVs in USA
November 9, 2011 – 11:35 am
USA, Harrisburg PA
Governors of the states of Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oklahoma and Wyoming have signed a MOU that offers encouragement to U.S. auto manufacturers to develop new natural gas-powered vehicles. The states have agreed to work toward switching their vehicle fleets to cleaner burning natural gas. They will also develop a joint request for proposal to the auto industry to combine the four states’ future vehicle purchases, which will help to increase demand for such vehicles in the marketplace.
US EPA Workshop Focuses on Certification Under New HD Rules
October 11, 2011 – 10:42 am
USA
On November 3rd, the U.S. EPA will hold a workshop to discuss the recently promulgated greenhouse gas emissions standards and fuel efficiency standards for medium- and heavy-duty engines and vehicles, reports NGVAmerica. The standards aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel efficiency for on-road heavy-duty vehicles. This workshop will focus on topics that must be explained in the short term to facilitate manufacturers wishing to certify early. The workshop is applicable to the following industry sectors:
(1) Class 2b & 3 Heavy-duty Pickup Trucks and Vans;
(2) Heavy-duty Engines; and
(3) Class 7 & 8 Combination Tractors and Class 2b-8 Vocational Vehicles.
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US Administration Finalizes MD-HD Fuel Efficiency and GHG Standards
August 12, 2011 – 5:27 pm
Source: NGVAmerica USA
On Tuesday, the U.S. EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finalized fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. NGVAmerica, the Natural Gas Vehicles for America association, has provided a summary of the outcomes for the US natural gas vehicle industry, noting this is the first time that such rules have been imposed on this class of vehicles and engines. The regulations start to take effect in 2014 and will be fully phased-in by 2018. The fuel efficiency regulations actually lag the GHG rules by two years, not taking effect until 2016.
Benefits of HD NGVs Understated in New US Rules
August 11, 2011 – 1:30 pm
Source: NGVAmerica USA, Washington
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation has released a 958-page document that includes new regulations that will reduce emissions and increase the fuel economy for medium and heavy-duty trucks. But NGVAmerica, a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen, strongly believes that the rules could have been even more effective in reducing emissions and reducing the use of imported petroleum.
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France’s Transportation Minister Confirms Continued Promotion of NGVs
August 7, 2011 – 12:21 am
France
France’s Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transportation and Housing, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, responded to a question about natural gas vehicles (NGVs) raised in the Assemblee Nationale in July, by saying the French government will continue to promote NGVs for their reduced emissions. In particular he spoke of encouraging prospects, both environmentally and economically, in the truck sector and of steps to promote the development of biomethane.
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