Category: Vehicles

Russian Billionaire Kickstarts NGV Production in Russia

March 6, 2010 – 1:53 pm | Source: RIA Novosti | Russia, Togliatta

The AvtoVAZ site in Tolyatti

The Russian city of Togliatta (Tolyatti), near the Volga River in the Samara Oblast, is a struggling automotive manufacturing hub. Now the city’s economy is about to be boosted by a new hybrid car project that is the brainchild of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov – said to be the first project of its kind in the country. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has reportedly backed a proposal to build a pilot factory with a capacity of 10,000 vehicles, that will produce cars that run on liquified natural gas and gasoline, according to RIA Novosti.
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Categories: Business, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Infrastructure, Market Developments, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

CNG-fuelled Bus Completes 322,000 Km Altoona Test – All Clear

March 5, 2010 – 8:38 am | USA, Chino CA
Creative Bus CNG installation trumps at Altoona

Creative Bus CNG installation all clear at Altoona

A CNG fueled cutaway bus recently completed the demanding Altoona Bus Test without any unscheduled maintenance or repairs to the CNG fuel system. Built on the Ford E-450 chassis, the cutaway bus is 25′ in length and has a passenger capacity of twenty one. The proprietary compressed natural gas fuel system was designed and installed in California by Creative Bus Sales, a company that specializes in CNG bus conversions.
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Mercedes-Benz Sprinter NGT Now Available in Australia

March 4, 2010 – 5:11 pm | Australia

The Sprinter NGT - bi-fuel model now available in Australia

For the first time, Mercedes-Benz Australia is offering a factory-fitted bi-fuel natural gas alternative to the Australian marketplace – the EU5-compliant Sprinter NGT. The bi-fuel vehicle (which operates on both petrol and natural gas, alternating at the push of a button) is available as the 316 NGT (Mid-Wheelbase and Long-Wheelbase van and cab-chassis) and the 516 NGT (single cab-chassis). Thanks to mechanical supercharging, the engine develops an output of 115 kW and a maximum torque of 240 Nm. These figures apply whether in natural gas or petrol operation, outperforming the previous versions of Sprinter available in Australia.
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Fiat Sets New Benchmark with Twin-Air Bi-fuel Engine

March 3, 2010 – 2:19 am | Italy
Fiat 900cc two-cylinder TwinAir engine

The Fiat 900cc two-cylinder Twin-Air engine - launched in Geneva

The Twin-Air engine will produce less than 100gms/km CO2

Visitors to the Geneva Motor Show this year will find the two cylinder 85 HP Twin-Air (900 cc) engine, developed by Fiat Powertrain Technologies to run on either natural gas or petrol. In the world preview, the engine will be displayed both in a showcase and fitted aboard a Fiat 500, the first model on which it will be introduced next September. Performance details are expected to be revealed at the show.
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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Emissions, Engines, Market Developments, Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Comments (1)

CNG or LPG Kits Now Obligatory for All New Rickshaws

March 1, 2010 – 2:59 pm | Source: Times of India | India, Pune

TVS King cng-powered auto rickshaws on sale in India

In a move aimed at promoting the use of cleaner vehicle fuels, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) of Pune has made it obligatory for all new rickshaws in the city to have CNG or LPG kits from March 1 onwards, reports the Times of India. Regional transport officer Chandrakant Kharatmal said, “The directive making installation of CNG/LPG kits mandatory in new rickshaws was finalised by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in January.”

Regional transport officer Chandrakant Kharatmal said, “The directive making installation of CNG/LPG kits mandatory in new rickshaws was finalised by the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) in January. The decision will come into force from March 1.”

Kharatmal said, “The move is a step towards promoting the use of cleaner fuels, thus restricting the pollution caused by petrol and diesel vehicles. Using CNG is an environment-friendly option and it is also in the interest of rickshaw drivers as it saves running costs.” Nearly 4,000 new rickshaws are registered in the city annually and manufacturing companies have been told to install the kits, he added.

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GAIL and Eden Unite for Hydrogen-Enriched Natural Gas Bus Trial

February 24, 2010 – 3:52 pm

India’s natural gas distributor GAIL (India) Ltd is to join with an Australian firm Eden Energy Ltd (Eden) in what could be the largest trial of a hydrogen-enriched blend of natural gas (HCNG) for transport. Descibing the trial as commercial in scale, Eden says the project  is designed to reduce pollution levels fromIndia’s massive public transport bus fleets. The trial is expected to see between 50-70 buses on the streets of Mumbai, a city of some 16 million people, by the end of this year.
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Categories: Business, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Emissions, Engines, HCNG, Market Developments, Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , , , | Comments (0)

New Chevrolet Aveo CNG Continues GM India’s Drive for Market Share

February 23, 2010 – 12:04 am | Source: Amit Bhawani

GM-India's Aveo CNG

The new environmentally friendly and cost efficient Chevrolet Aveo CNG, launched at the recent 2010 India Auto Expo, is expected to be well received by the growing city-based NGV community in that country. Introducing more CNG models is part of GM India’s stategy to increase market share in the aftermath of the ‘trage of the bankruptcy process’  – “GM will continue to remain aggressive in India in order to take advantage of opportunities as they arise,” said Mr. Karl Slym, President & Managing Director, General Motors India in a GM India press release from mid-2009.


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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , | Comments (0)

Baytech Certified for GM 2010 Vans and Pickups

February 18, 2010 – 8:06 am | USA, California

EPA and CARB certified CNG retrofits now available for the GM Silverado

EPA and CARB certified CNG retrofits now available from Baytech for the GM Silverado and other GM 2010 model

EPA and CARB Certified

Conversion kit supplier, Baytech Corporation has obtained Model Year 2010 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions certifications for Baytech’s dedicated (mono-fuel) compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled General Motors full-size vans and pickups. The vans are certified to Nationwide Bin 5 standards, including 0.07 g/mi NOx which is 30% lower than the California SULEV NOx standard. The pickups are certified to California SULEV standards. The CNG vehicles have Full CARB OBDII Approval.


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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

Maruti Suzuki CNG Eeco Selected by Wings Travel

February 10, 2010 – 11:52 am | Source: Sakaal Times | India, Pune
Maruti Suzuki Eeco

Recently launched - the Maruti Suzuki Eeco

Pune travel agent and city-based cab service provider Wings Travels has launched its maiden fleet of 100 Maruti Suzuki Eeco cabs that will run on compressed natural gas (CNG) as part of its green drive, says the Sakaal Times. Recently unveiled at the auto fair in New Delhi, the Eeco is equipped with a 1196cc engine with five speed manual transmission gearbox and was developed by Maruti for the large Indian taxi market.

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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , | Comments (1)

Navistar and Clean Air Power to Develop MaxxForce 13 Natural Gas / Diesel Engine Program

February 9, 2010 – 7:02 pm

Planned development of a “a true big bore natural gas powered engine” – Jack Allen, president of Navistar’s North American Truck Group

Clean Air Power, the developer of dual-fuel combustion technology that enables heavy-duty diesel engines to operate on a combination of diesel and natural gas, has entered into a concept development agreement with Navistar, Inc. to develop a MaxxForce 13 Natural Gas/Diesel Engine Program for the North American market.
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Categories: Business, Engines, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

Altech-Eco Adds 2010 Ford Transit CNG Conversion EPA-Certification to its Growing Portfolio

February 9, 2010 – 6:18 pm | Source: EON | USA, Ashville NC

Altech-Eco Corporation, the conversion facility for Transeco Energy Corporation, has obtained a Certificate of Conformity (COC) from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — the first of its kind from the EPA for a taxi — for their bi-fuel 2010 Ford Transit Connect compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion system. The announcement comes in parallel with Ford’s news on the prep-package option for the Transit Connect Taxi, for incorporation into Ford’s 2011 model due out later this year.
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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Engines, Equipment, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , , | Comments (0)

Ford Offers CNG Prep-Package for Transit Connect 2011

February 9, 2010 – 1:06 am | Source: USA, Chicago
The Ford Transit Connect CNG Taxi ready for 2011 market

Ford's 2011 Transit Connect Taxi will include a CNG prep package.

Ford CNG prep package “marks a new era in ‘green’ transit.” (Mark Fields, Ford’s president of The Americas)

Ford Motor Company will introduce engine prep packages on all Transit Connect models – base and taxi – allowing conversion to efficient, clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas). The standard model comes with a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder engine and automatic transmission.  Both CNG and LPG are popular among taxi operators because of their low cost of ownership.
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Categories: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Engines, Market Developments, Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV), Technology, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , , , | Comments (2)

Peruvian Expectations High for NGV Growth in 2010

February 8, 2010 – 1:32 am | Source: Andina | Peru

Peru’s cities of Lima and Callao are expected to increase the number of natural gas fuelling stations from the 94 recorded at end 2009 to 130 by the end of this year, according to the general manager of the Peruvian Chamber of NGV (CPGNV),  Jorge Juarez. “Right now there are 30 Gasocentro under construction, so we consider it feasible to have 130 stations by year’s end,” he told Andina news agency.
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Sweden’s First Garbage Truck to Run on Biogas and Biodiesel

January 25, 2010 – 1:04 am | Sweden
The dual-fuel Dennis Eagle garbage truck operated by Renova

Renova's biogas-converted Dennis Eagle garbage truck

Kungsbacka Municipality, in cooperation with Renova,  a major recycling company of West Sweden, has received the first of eight new dual-fuel trucks operating on biomethane (refined biogas) and biodiesel – the first in the country, according to Renova CEO, Christian Baarlid, who added,  “It is largely thanks to the municipality’s “green procurement” with clear environmental standards that we are now able to present this unique environment garbage truck. This is an important milestone for a better environment in the transport and logistics sector.
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Categories: Alternative Fuels, Biomethane, Market Developments, Vehicles, Vehicles & Fuels | Tags: , , | Comments (0)

Palm Desert Celebrates USA’s First CNG-Powered Ambulance

January 21, 2010 – 4:14 pm | USA, Palm Desert CA
City of Palm Desert's brand new CNG-powered ambulance

City of Palm Desert's brand new CNG-powered ambulance

The City of Palm Desert will celebrate the unveiling of the community’s new compressed natural gas-powered ambulance and medic unit, claimed by the city to be the first of its kind in the United States on January 22. Confronted with the need to replace an aging diesel ambulance and medic unit in February 2009, the Palm Desert City Council directed staff to explore the possibility of purchasing an ambulance powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), a fuel that burns much cleaner than gasoline or diesel and that has the added benefit of being domestically produced.
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