EcoDual, LLC, a provider of dual-fuel conversion systems for heavy duty diesel trucks, has achieved authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin installing its systems on 2004 to 2009 Cummins ISX engines. The EcoDual conversion kit for the 15L Cummins ISX engine, one of the most widely used engines in heavy duty trucking with more than 1 million currently in service, will provide fleets with an opportunity to substitute low cost natural gas for expensive diesel fuel.
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Category: Engines
EcoDual Gains EPA Compliance Listing for Dual-Fuel Conversions of Cummins ISX Engine
February 1, 2012 – 3:05 pm
USA, Beaufort SC
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Masters Thesis in US Highlights Viability of Natural Gas as a Marine Fuel
January 5, 2012 – 7:07 pm
Source: The Maritime Executive USA
Conclusion: Natural gas is … the natural choice as a fuel of the future for the marine industry in general and the U.S. in particular.
A Masters of Science in Marine Engineering student at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Edward J. Eastlack, has written what the The Maritime Executive describes as a “powerful thesis” for the Masters of Science in Marine Engineering program addressing the lack of LNG fuel usage in the United States. The thesis was submitted to USMMA, Kings Point NY in August 2011. The Abstract follows.
Westport and EMD to Develop Natural Gas Fuel System for Rail Locomotives
December 2, 2011 – 3:31 am
Canada, Vancouver BC
Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) locomotive
Westport Innovations Inc., developer of natural gas engines, has entered into an agreement with Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of diesel-electric locomotives, to integrate Westport’s high pressure direct injection (HPDI) technology and natural gas fuel system technologies into an EMD locomotive provided by Canadian National Railways (CN). The consortium is expecting to demonstrate the natural gas locomotive as part of the previously announced Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) project with CN and Gaz Metro.
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G-City Concept Vehicle Uses Biomethane and Electricity
November 24, 2011 – 10:11 am
France
At the ‘Techno Buzz’ session of the Mobilis 2011 conference held mid-November in Belfort, France, a new natural gas – electric concept car was presented. This vehicle, a partnership between GDF Suez (CRIGEN), FAM Automobiles and France Craft, is said to be the first natural gas / biomethane to electric traction vehicle. Its design can be adapted for use as a pick-up (see image) or to carry four people.
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PSI Introduces 8.8 Liter Big Block Engine, CNG Option
November 14, 2011 – 3:41 am
USA, Wood Dale, IL.
Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI) has introduced a newly designed and tooled 8.8-Liter engine, capable of operating with natural gas. Designed, tooled and manufactured in the U.S., it offers industrial, bus and truck Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) a fully-integrated drop-in solution that provides power performance with maximum fuel efficiency, emissions certification and fuel flexibility. PSI will unveil this new product at the RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky on November 29th, 2011 and at Power Gen International in Las Vegas on December 13th, 2011.
DSME and GL Prove Feasibility of Large LNG-fuelled Container Ships
November 12, 2011 – 3:38 am
Germany, Hamburg and South Korea, Busan
DSME shipyard
“LNG-fueled cargo ships will be emerging on a large scale in the latter half of this decade.” Dr. Gerd-Michael Wuersig, Germanischer Lloyd
DSME and Germanischer Lloyd (GL) have proved the feasibility of running large container vessels on LNG in a recently completed joint project. At a press conference held during the Kormarine Trade Fair in Busan, both parties announced the progress they have made towards developing LNG-fuelled large container vessels. GL has recently finished approval in Principle of a 14,000 TEU LNG-fuelled container vessel for DSME.
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Westport’s Environmental Management System Certified to ISO 14001:2004
November 7, 2011 – 2:43 am
Canada, Vancouver BC
Westport Innovations Inc., developer and manufacturer of natural gas vehicle technologies, has been certified as having met the international standards of ISO 14001:2004, an Environmental Management System (EMS) standard. Westport’s EMS encompasses the development, design, testing and assembly of alternative fuel systems for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) clients and the general operations of Westport facilities. ”Building on our ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System, our ISO 14001:2004 EMS certification is evidence of our efforts to develop, design, test and assemble engine and fuel system components that meet or exceed the expectations of our OEM partners and customers,” said Karen Hamberg, Senior Director, Sustainability and Environmental Performance of Westport Innovations.
(This article compiled using information from a Westport Innovations, Inc. press release)
Paper Transport Tests 12-Liter CNG Tractors
November 3, 2011 – 2:02 pm
USA, Green Bay WI
The CNG-powered Kenworth on trial for PTI
Paper Transport, Inc. (PTI) has begun testing prototype compressed natural gas (CNG) equipment by bringing two tractors with 12-liter CNG engines into service. The Cummins-produced prototype engines are being tested in a Kenworth truck and in a Freightliner. Jeff Shefchik, president of Paper Transport says “The 12-liter CNG trucks are an important step forward for us as we look toward more wide spread use of natural gas as a fuel for our trucks.”
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ARAI Develops Indian Dual-Fuel Technology
October 6, 2011 – 7:58 pm
ARAI, the Automotive Research Association of India, has developed a 6-cylinder methane/diesel dual-fuel engine using injection technology. ARAI says a six cylinder engine was chosen due to its importance for intercity bus and truck applications. It says the benefits of dual-fuel technology include fuel flexibility, lower emissions, retaining diesel compression ratio, better efficiency and easy conversion of existing diesel engines without major hardware modifications.
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Westport’s HPDI Inventor Receives Award
October 6, 2011 – 3:32 am
Canada, Vancouver BC
Truck featuring Westport's HPDI technology
Vancouver’s Philip G. Hill, principal inventor of Westport’s founding technology using clean-burning natural gas in diesel engines, will win the 2011 $100,000 Encana Principal Award granted by the Ernest C. Manning Awards Foundation. Hill’s innovation of high-pressure direct injection (HPDI) allows diesel engines to operate with the same power and efficiency that they are known for, but with reduced emissions of smog-forming nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, and 21-27 percent less greenhouse gas emissions.
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New Ford QVM Enters US CNG Conversion Market
October 5, 2011 – 2:15 pm
USA, Adrian MI
CNG Search & Rescue Ford F250 under development
Venchurs Inc., a Michigan-based specialist company serving the automotive OEM and aftermarket industries, has set up a new division — Venchurs Vehicle Systems (VVS) — to meet the expanding commercial and fleet market for natural gas vehicles. Designated a FORD QVM (Qualified Vehicle Modifier), VVS unveiled its new CNG Dedicated and Bi-Fuel conversions for Ford light trucks at the Green Fleet conference in Grapevine Texas on October 3, 2011.
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Westport LD Announces New Natural Gas System for Ford Super Duty Pickups
September 29, 2011 – 9:57 am
Canada, Vancouver BC
Designed to meet both EPA 2012 and CARB 2012 standards
After years of successful engagement in the heavy-duty trucking industry, Westport Innovations Inc. is now making fully-integrated, cost-effective solutions available in light-duty vehicles with the Westport WiNG™ Power System—an advanced, integrated, bi-fuel (natural gas / gasoline) system for fleet customers of passenger and commercial vehicles. As part of a product launch with Ford Super Duty Pickup Trucks, Westport LD has unveiled the new WiNG™ system for the Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks, to be sold and serviced through authorized Ford dealers.
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APG Receives First EPA Engine Family Approval Under New Conversion Regs
September 27, 2011 – 1:23 am
USA, Lynnfield MA
GreenMan Technologies, Inc.’s subsidiary American Power Group, Inc. (APG) has been notified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that its first Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversion Submission has been approved per the EPA Final Rule 40CFR Parts 85 and 86: EPA420-F-11-006, for the Outside Useful Life (OUL) Heavy Duty 2004 Caterpillar C-15 engine family. The submission utilized APG’s latest V5000 Dual-Fuel Turbocharged Natural Gas technology which had to meet specific design, componentry, and emission compliance criteria. This first OUL HD approval provides APG a clear path for additional conversion approval submissions on a wide-array of heavy-duty aftermarket diesel truck engines.
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Paper Transport Envisages 100% Fleet on Natural Gas
September 24, 2011 – 12:13 pm
USA, Green Bay WI
PTI's dual-fuel test vehicle - a Freightliner Cascadia
Jeff Shefchik, president of Paper Transport Inc. (PTI), believes natural gas will eventually become the fuel of choice for the transportation industry, according to a FleetOwner report. The Great Lakes haulage company has been operating compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks since February 2010, including seven Freightliner M2 natural gas trucks with Cummins ISL G engines, and has clocked up more than 700,000 miles of reduced-emission, reduced-cost deliveries.
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LNG-Powered GT1 Locomotive Sets New World Record
September 14, 2011 – 9:15 am
Russia, Moscow
LNG-powered GT1 sets new world record.
The Russian-developed GT1-001 gas turbine-electric locomotive has successfully undergone further field tests in Moscow, in readiness for deployment on non-electrified freight-intensive areas of the railways. Hauling 16,ooo tonnes in 170 rail cars, a new world record for a single prime mover with an internal combustion engine, the 300 tonne two-section GT1 combines a turbine and power unit with a separate section containing the 17 tonne liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tank. The engine can develop 8300 kW of power and when fully fuelled can drive the train 750 kms with a top speed of 100 km per hour.
