A joint ministry (Ecology, Economy and Budget) statement in France has declared several changes to the 2011 ecological bonus-malus scheme which sets incentives for purchasing low-emission vehicles. The government says the bonus-malus, which was initiated in 2008, has fully met its objectives by encouraging buyers of new vehicles to choose low CO2 models. Declaring their goal achieved, the government has removed the bonus for buying a natural gas vehicle (NGV) from 1 January 2011. Reduced bonuses remain in place however for purchasers of low-emission vehicles in general, including any NGVs that fit within the approved emission brackets.
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Category: Emissions
France Sets Low-Emission Bonuses for 2011
December 26, 2010 – 2:33 am
France
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Scania Collaborates on Development of Biofuel-based Engine Technology
October 5, 2010 – 8:49 pm
Sweden, Södertälje
Scania has been granted SEK 30 million (USD 4.4 million) by Sweden’s Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation Initiative (FFI) to develop a biofuel (alcohol and/or methane based) engine intended for heavy commercial vehicles. The company will focus on developing an engine using sustainable biofuels that will combine the high energy efficiency of diesel (compression ignition) technology with the more efficient exhaust aftertreatment system of Otto (spark ignition) technology.
STX Norway Offshore Powers Up PSVs with LNG
September 16, 2010 – 8:02 am
Norway
STX Norway Offshore has entered into three separate contracts in recent days to build LNG-powered platform supply vessels (PSVs). Two of the contracts, with Island Offshore and worth approximately NOK 900 million (USD 148.2 million), will be for Romanian-built hulls outfitted in Brevik, Norway, for delivery in Q2 and Q3 2012. The other hull, also to be constructed in Romania, will be outfitted in remote Aukra, Norway and delivered to Olympic Shipping in Q1 2012.
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MIT Study Recognises Importance of Natural Gas as Bridge to Future
August 4, 2010 – 11:41 pm
USA, Cambridge MA
Natural gas truly is a bridge to a low-carbon future,” said MITEI Director Ernest J. Moniz
Recommendation for transportation sector: remove policy and regulatory barriers to natural gas as a transportation fuel
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has completed a two year study which examined the scale of U.S. natural gas reserves and the potential of this fuel to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. Undertaken by the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), the study concluded that natural gas will play a leading role in reducing GHG emissions over the next several decades.
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ESI Orders Clean Air Power’s Catalyst
July 29, 2010 – 2:36 pm
USA, Houston TX
Clean Air Power (CAP)’s Houston facility has received a significant catalytic converter order from its customer Emissions Solutions Inc.(“ESI”). The order is worth $356,250 and is the second such order from ESI, the first was received in April 2010 for $215,000. ESI will use these catalysts on their 7.6L Natural Gas Engines to control Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbons. Combined with the CAP DeNOx catalysts, the ESI engines will deliver sub EPA ’10 emission levels for their truck and bus operating customers. EPA ’10 requires near-zero emissions of particulates and NOx. The relationship between CAP and ESI has resulted in a design specifically for ESI’s engine technology.
Omnitek’s High Pressure Natural Gas Filter Faces Strong Demand
July 28, 2010 – 2:44 pm
USA, San Marcos CA
Omnitek Engineering Corporation, a developer of natural gas engines and proprietary diesel-to-natural gas conversion systems, says business is booming for their high-pressure natural gas filters. with more than 20,000 sold since the component’s introduction earlier this year. The filters, which provide protection from solid particulate matter and oil aerosols, are made for light and heavy duty vehicles powered by CNG. Sales have been bolstered by receiving international certification from an independent agency in January, based on tests and standards sanctioned by the United Nationals Economic Commission for Europe, specifically UN-ECE-110R.
US Report: Natural Gas Truck Best Policy Option to Reduce Petroleum Reliance
July 19, 2010 – 3:23 am
Source: NGVAmerica USA
A report released in the US by Resources for the Future (RFF) and the National Energy Policy Institute (NEPI) concludes that expanding the use of natural gas trucks is the most effective and cost-effective policy option available to decrease reliance on petroleum. The report, Toward a New National Energy Policy: Assessing the Options, assesses 35 different policy options for reducing oil consumption and carbon emissions.
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US Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Landfill Gas-Based Pathways
July 19, 2010 – 1:44 am
USA, Argonne National Laboratory IL
The Center for Transportation Research at the Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory, has released a report entitled Well-to-Wheels Analysis of Landfill Gas-Based Pathways and Their Addition to the GREET Model, May 2010. The report will be of interest to all communities looking to take advantage of the renewable fuel generated from landfill, a common utility found near all big population centers, with its obvious benefits if utilized for the generation of biomethane as a vehicle fuel. The following Executive Summary is taken from the report:
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Canadian Deployment Roadmap for HD Natural Gas Progresses
July 18, 2010 – 4:26 pm
Canada
The Windsor-Detroit corridor is Canada’s busiest artery of trade.
Agree to focus on HD vehicles in key corridors and return-to-base fleets in near term
A June roundtable was convened by Natural Resources Canada to serve as a checkpoint on work that has been underway since late March when the deployment roadmap for natural gas in transportation was launched, reports Alicia Milner, President of the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA). All six working groups reported back.
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California Extends HOV Exemption for NGVs But Not Gasoline Hybrids
July 10, 2010 – 6:26 am
USA, California
CA Signage for HOV Lanes
Last week, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Assembly Bill 1500, which gives solo drivers in natural gas or pure electric vehicles access to the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the state until January 1, 2015. HOV is commonly referred to as car-pooling. Explaining the legislation, NGVAmerica says these vehicles qualify because they are classified as Inherently Low Emission Vehicles and Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles. Drivers of hybrids and plug-in hybrids will lose their access to the HOV lanes at the end of 2011. Access to HOV lanes has been an important non-monetary incentive for fleet owners to buy alternative fuel vehicles. Because fleet owners need adequate lead time to make vehicle replacement decisions, it is important that they be assured the single occupancy HOV lane access will be continued beyond the current sunset date of 2011.
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Eden Energy Hythane Test Produces Significant Results
May 31, 2010 – 12:15 pm
Australia, Perth
NOx emission reduced by 16.6%
Turbo charged engine under development
Australian-based green energy developer Eden Energy Limited has successfully tested a production-ready 6-litre engine that will enable Indian bus manufacturer Ashok Leyland to power buses with Eden’s low-emission blend of hydrogen-enriched natural gas (HCNG) marketed under the company’s proprietary Hythane trademark. The 2010 H06B CNG engine – developed by Eden’s wholly-owned US subsidiary, Hythane Company, at Ashok Leyland’s Hosur laboratory in India – was initially designed to meet the country’s current Bharat IV (Euro IV equivalent) mandatory emissions targets. Justin Fulton, Hythane Company’s Director of Engine and Fuel Systems, said the results from last month’s calibrated control system and exhaust catalyst for the naturally-aspirated engine would comply with the next generation of Bharat V (Euro V) requirements, ensuring a long production life for the HO6 engine.
US EPA & DOT Finalize GHG and Efficiency Rules for Motor Vehicles
April 2, 2010 – 2:02 pm
Source: NGVAmerica USA
Favorable outcomes for NGVs following industry submissions
On April 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) issued final regulations paving the way for new greenhouse gas emission controls and fuel efficiency requirements. The rules cover model years 2012–2016 and, when fully phased-in, will require that passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles meet a combined average emissions level of 250 grams of carbon dioxide per mile (225 g/mi for cars, 298 g/mi for light trucks), equivalent to 35.5 miles per gallon (MPG) (39.5 mpg for cars, 29.8 mpg for light trucks). EPA has said that the new rules will add an average of $950 to the cost of new vehicles.
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Eco:Drive Now Available for Fiat Natural Power Models
April 1, 2010 – 3:32 pm
Italy
Fiat Eco:Drive increases drivers' awareness of fuel consumption.
Eco:Drive, a system that allows motorists a better understanding of the way in which their driving style influences fuel consumption and which may lead to an increased environmental impact, is now available for all Fiat Natural Power models. The new version of the much lauded software developed by Fiat and Eni, will enable owners of bi-fuel vehicles (petrol and methane) to accurately quantify the environmental and economic advantages linked to the use of methane, by verifying emissions data, CNG fuel consumption and distance covered during each journey. Data will be made meaningful by objectively comparing it to an identical journey using gasoline.
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Software Webinar – Alt-Fuel Systems Development Simulation
April 1, 2010 – 12:55 pm
USA
“How can System Simulation help you design Injection Systems for Alternative Fuels and CNG in record times” – a Webinar, May 20, 11AM Atlantic time (GMT-4.00).
Software to simulate fluid components and systems may be a useful tool to assist managers and engineers develop new solutions for reducing natural gas and other alternative fuel vehicle emissions, says LMS, an engineering innovation company. Applying it could assist OEMs and alternative fuel vehicle suppliers meet increasingly stringent government emissions standards and generate improved return on investment (ROI). LMS is presenting a webinar on the LMS Imagine.Lab AMESim, a physics-based simulation program for designing complete fluids systems (hydraulics or pneumatics), from the tank to the actuators up the fluid network.
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Fiat Automobiles Dominates European CO2 Emission Reduction Rankings
March 4, 2010 – 5:13 pm
Italy
Doblo Natural Power - one of Fiat's stable of low-emission methane-powered performers
Lowest average value CO2 emissions for Fiat Brand and Group in 2009
New Doblo Natural Power builds Fiat’s NGV stable
Among Europe’s best-selling automotive brands and for the third year running, Fiat Automobiles has logged the lowest average value for CO2 emissions of cars sold in 2009: 127.8 g/km (it was 133.7 g/km in 2008). The accomplishment was recognised by JATO, leading automotive advisory and research service provider. The bottom line shows FIAT ahead of Toyota (130.1 g/km), Peugeot (133.6 g/km), Renault (137.5 g/km), Citroen (137.9 g/km), Ford (140.0 g/km), Opel/Vauxhall (148.9 g/km), Volkswagen (150.4 g/km), AUDI (160.9 g/km) and Mercedes (176.4 g/km).
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