Vancouver-based Westport Innovations Inc., manufacturer of natural gas engines, has introduced a range of product enhancements for natural gas Class 8 trucks. First and foremost, the Westport HD 15L will now deliver up to 550 horsepower and 1850 lb-ft of torque, targeted for North American heavy haul vocations with the most exacting performance requirements. This power/torque option now matches what has been available in Australia for over three years with operations exceeding 10 million kilometers. Availability is anticipated early 2013.
Category: Technology
Enhanced Westport HD15L LNG Engine Delivers Class 8 Performance
May 17, 2012 – 12:00 am
Canada, Vancouver BC
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Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel OUL Engines Approved for Dual-Fuel Conversion by US EPA
May 9, 2012 – 2:00 pm
USA, Lynnfield MA
GreenMan Technologies, Inc.’s subsidiary American Power Group, Inc. (APG) has received online notification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that its recent Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversion Submission has been approved for several Caterpillar and Detroit Diesel ‘Outside Useful Life’ (OUL) engines. listed below.
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Westport’s First Quarter Report Depicts Increasing Significance of Natural Gas Fuel for Transportation
May 9, 2012 – 12:00 pm
Canada, Vancouver BC
Weichai Westport WP12HPDI Landking engine
Natural gas engine developer Westport Innovations Inc. has issued its First Quarter report, ended March 31, 2012. It declares quarterly revenues up 133% year over year and provides an update on operations. “Strong growth across all our business units and in all geographic regions continues to demonstrate the rapid emergence of natural gas as a significant fuel for transportation applications,” said David Demers, CEO of Westport Innovations.
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Biomethane-Powered Sciroccos Dominate 2012 STCC Round 1 at Mantorp Park
May 6, 2012 – 12:00 pm
Sweden
Kristoffersson pulling away at Mantorp Park, the first round of STCC 2012
The Swedish Touring Car Championship season is off to a flying start for two racing teams driving VW Sciroccos powered by biomethane, at Swedens Mantorp Park circuit last weekend. Team biogas.se is racing in its third season, joined this year by newcomers IP Team Biogas. Both teams are fielding two cars, both running with support from Volkswagen Sweden and energy company E.ON. Johan Kristoffersson from Team biogas.se won both opening races, leading from lap one to the finish, to claim the maximum 50 championship points for the event.
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US Methane Hydrate Test Technology may be a “Game Changer”
May 5, 2012 – 3:00 pm
USA, Washington DC
North Slope of Alaska
Methane hydrate was discovered only a few decades ago. Various estimates suggest the energy locked up in methane hydrate deposits is more than twice the global reserves of all conventional gas, oil, and coal deposits combined, but the technical challenges of extracting that energy source have been slow to resolve. Now, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has reported the successful completion of a test of technology in the North Slope of Alaska that was able to safely extract a steady flow of natural gas.
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US EPA Issues New Assigned Emission Deterioration Factors for Small Volume Manufacturers
April 14, 2012 – 1:12 pm
Source: Alex Lawson, NGV Global Technical Committee Chair USA
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Air and Radiation has issued a letter to Manufacturers providing revised EPA assigned deterioration factors (ADFs) for determining compliance with certain chassis-based exhaust and evaporative emission standards (Ref. CD-12-07, March 20 2012). Assigned emissions deterioration factors (ADFs) are used by small volume manufacturers in lieu of emissions durability testing to calculate the useful life emissions of a vehicle necessary to demonstrate compliance with the EPA’s useful life emissions standards.
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Maxximus World Records Highlight Power of LNG
April 13, 2012 – 3:00 pm
USA, Los Angeles CA
Maintaining the crown as the world’s fastest street-legal car, the Maxximus LNG 2000, the brainchild of financier Bruce McMahan and Indianapolis-based designer Marlon Kirby, has now set world records for both LNG (liquefied natural gas) and LPG (propane). By utilizing proprietary technology, the Maxximus team say they have revolutionized the next generation of green vehicles that provides “legendary” versatility for using both natural fuels and reducing our dependence on foreign fuel sources.
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Boeing Delivers LNG-Fuelled Aircraft Concept to NASA
March 22, 2012 – 3:00 pm
Source: Aviation Week USA
Boeing elongated design concept featuring possible LNG accommodation (in blue).
Will technological advances enable liquefied natural gas powered (LNG) aircraft to take to the skies by mid century, asked the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Boeing has addressed this question by submitting a concept study in February under NASA’s N+4 generation airliners program for 2040-2050, reports Aviation Week. Considered too immature a technology for the N+3 program, NASA believed LNG to be worthy of further investigation. Boeing’s study says it can be done.
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Cummins Commences Development of 15L On-Highway Natural Gas Engine
March 21, 2012 – 2:00 pm
USA, Louisville KY
Cummins Inc. has commenced development of a 15-liter heavy-duty, spark-ignited natural gas engine to meet demand for cleaner and cheaper on-highway applications. As natural gas production grows in North America and the fuel becomes more readily available, Cummins believes that there is a strong market for engines powered by an alternative to diesel fuel. The Cummins ISX15 G is expected to be in limited production by 2014.
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VERBIO Turns Straw to Biomethane for Transport Fuel
March 18, 2012 – 1:29 am
Germany, Leipzig
VERBIO Vereinigte BioEnergie AG (VERBIO) has opened what is said to be the world’s first industrial straw processing plant for the production of biomethane in Zörbig, Saxony-Anhalt. Marketed as verbiogas, the fuel is produced from agricultural residue, with VERBIO consciously refusing to use raw materials which could otherwise be used for food production. The DBFZ German Biomass Research Centre in Leipzig has calculated that about 8-13 million tonnes of straw goes unused in Germany alone annually, which if turned into biofuel would run 4 million cars for a year. VERBIO’s new plant can convert 20,000 tonnes of straw into biomethane every year.
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China’s First Engine with Westport HPDI Technology Unveiled during China National People’s Congress
March 14, 2012 – 12:59 am
China, Beijing
Weichai Westport WP12NG engine launch
China’s first natural gas engine featuring Westport Innovations Inc. high pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology has been introduced at a press conference at the government building in Beijing. The innovative technological achievement and product introduction is the result of China’s first joint venture for HPDI natural gas engines—Weichai Westport Inc.—and fills a gap in the natural gas engine market for heavy-duty trucks.
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China Yuchai to Develop Natural Gas Engine Portfolio
March 10, 2012 – 10:15 am
Singapore
China Yuchai International Limited’s main operating subsidiary, Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Limited (GYMCL) has inaugurated a new project to develop and produce a full portfolio of natural gas powered engines to complement its existing suite of diesel engines. Customers will be offered a greater choice of GYMCL’s engines to meet their needs, especially in the large bus, mid- to heavy-duty truck, power generator and marine engine markets.
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GE and Chesapeake Energy Initiative Targets Natural Gas Fueling Infrastructure Development
March 9, 2012 – 12:03 pm
USA, Houston TX
GE Energy image of CNG filling station
Multinational conglomerate GE and North American natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corporation (Chesapeake) are to collaborate in the development of infrastructure solutions that will help accelerate the adoption of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Chesapeake says the technology and services project is a significant milestone toward increasing energy independence in the United States through the increased use of natural gas.
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Project to Test Commercial Viability of Converting Waste Water to Biomethane
March 9, 2012 – 7:49 am
Spain, Madrid
Water management company Aqualia Gestion Integral del Agua SA of Madrid (Aqualia) has announced plans to launch a commercial-scale demonstration scheme with European partners, using waste water to farm algae and harvest biomethane and biodiesel for use a transportation fuel. 3M and Chesapeake to Create New CNG Cylinder Technology for US Market
February 21, 2012 – 8:04 pm
USA, St Paul MN and Oklahoma City OK
Burst Pressure Test (Image - 3M)
Market-ready in 4th Quarter 2012
Innovation company 3M and natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corporation have entered into an agreement to collaborate in designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks for use in all sectors of the United States transportation market. Currently the fuel tank (cylinder) on a CNG vehicle is its most expensive single component. The new CNG tanks developed through the 3M and Chesapeake partnership will reduce costs while increasing performance. Less expensive tanks will enable greater market adoption of CNG as an alternative automotive fuel source.
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