USA

Gunnar Lindstrom, who has spearheaded Honda’s NGV program in the USA the past several years, has opted for early retirement. February 1st was his last day at Honda.  Gunnar joined American Honda in 1978, working first in Motorcycle and later with the Automobile Service division as a technical trouble-shooting Engineer.  He joined Honda R&D and the newly formed Electrical Vehicle team in 1990 where he was responsible for the initial US strategy and coordination of Honda North American EV activities.  He also worked to develop EV recharging infrastructure standards jointly with the Electric Utility industry.  Today, his department is responsible for the Honda Civic GX, developing the launch strategy and business plan for the FuelMaker “Phill” home refueling appliance and the launch of the Honda FCX.  For the past three years, Gunnar also has served as the vice-chair of NGVAmerica. Gunnar has been a stronger advocate and effective spokesman for light-duty NGVs.  NGVAmerica and the entire NGV industry will miss his leadership and guidance.

Westport to supply LNG fuel systems through new assembly centre in British Columbia

USA & Canada

Kenworth Truck Company in the US will expand its presence in the growing market for alternative fuels and environmentally friendly, liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles by beginning production of Kenworth T800 LNG trucks at its manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, in 2009. Under an exclusive agreement with Westport Innovations Inc. Kenworth will use Westport's LNG fuel system technology adapted for the Cummins ISX-15-liter engine.

USA

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) is increasing their alternative fuel offering, releasing a CNG-powered chassis for the walk-in van market featuring Cummins Westport’s 5.9L B-Gas-Plus engine and Dynetek fuel cylinders.  FCCC’s MT-45 and MT-55 CNG-powered chasses will carry the same payload as their diesel-powered versions — 10,000 to 19,000 lbs. — with the same GVWR range of 14,140 to 30,000 lbs.  FCCC already offers the MB-55 CNG-powered chassis for bus and shuttle applications. In early 2008, long term alternative fuel user, UPS will deploy 167 new FCCC CNG-powered walk-in vans in California, Texas, and Georgia.

Dr Jeffrey Seisler is the CEO of Clean Fuels Consulting and is also Vice President Government Relations for IANGV.

Two new developments within the structure of the United Nations Working Party 29 on World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations will change the way natural gas vehicles and other alternative fuels are handled within the worldwide regulatory body.  Up until 2008 the gaseous emissions-and-safety-based regulations (for NGVs and liquefied petroleum gas – LPG) have been handled within the Group of Experts on Pollution and Energy (GRPE), one of the groups within the WP29.  As of June 2007 the activities outside of fuel and emissions, such as the all-important safety provisions associated with Regulations 110 and 115 will be handled by the Group of Experts on General Safety (GRSG).  Additionally, a new Informal Group on Gaseous Fuelled Vehicles (GFV) was created within GRPE as a ‘fast-track’ measure for all the emissions-based regulations.  These two new developments overall are positive, however, not without some new challenges.

Abstracts are currently being processed and specific program details are yet to be announced for NGV2008, June 3-5 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but organizers have already released details of supplemental programs that will make the trip worthwhile. A technical tour will be available for delegates who wish to visit the laboratories of CENPES – Petrobras Research and Development Center- located in the University City, next to Galeão Airport and to UFRJ –Rio de Janeiro Federal University-, specially focused on laboratories for fuel control and vehicle testing, including gas emissions. In addition, there will be an optional test-drive of a tetra-fuel unit, capable of running on 100% natural gas, on a gasoline-25% alcohol mixture, on 100% alcohol, and on 100% gasoline. Brazil is at the forefront of this technology and is already demonstrating its viability in the commercial marketplace. Conference details at www.ibp.org.br/ngv2008 , Exhibition information at www.ngvgroup.com/ngv2008/en.php  

An article about biofuels by the Science Editor of the UK paper the Independent (16 Jan) was reprinted recently in the New Zealand Herald.  The article deals with such issues as:
“Will biofuel help to prevent global warming, or will it make things worse?”
“What are biofuels and how they meant to help fight global warming?”
“What has gone wrong with the biofuel dream?”

Motoring enthusiast and host of the US NBC’s Tonight Show, Jay Leno has given natural gas vehicles the green light, featuring them in the alternative fuel section of his website, www.jaylenosgarage.com . One segment features an in-depth look at the Honda Civic GX and FuelMaker’s Phill home refueling appliance and includes a lively comments section with contributions from many happy natural gas vehicle users in the US. It’s only 6 and half minutes long so it’s ideal viewing for your coffee break. (see also the interview with alternative fuel guru, Ron Cogan from the Green Car Journal.)

Canada

Canadian ENGO Pollution Probe has included OEM natural gas vehicles in its December 2007 study entitled, A Global Survey of Highly Fuel Efficient, Low Greenhouse Gas Emitting Vehicles. Of the estimated 250 vehicles identified with maximum fuel consumption ratings of 5.9 litres/100 km (40 miles per US gallon) or greenhouse gas emissions of 142 g CO2/km or less, 14 vehiclioes were OEM natural gas vehicles. Noteworthy as well was a reference to the potential for bmethane to further reduce CO2 emissions from natural gas vehicles. The report can be downloaded from: http://www.pollutionprobe.org/Publications/Air.htm.

USA, California

Californian utility Pacific Gas & Electric is looking for help with biomethane technology, specifically processes that can reliably and economically convert biomass material first into biogas and then into pipeline- and vehicle-quality biomethane. The utility is looking for responses to a request for information by February 20, and asks interested parties to register by February 22 for a biomethane workshop to be held in San Francisco on March 5. A Phase II RFI is to be issued March 21 with projected response deadline of May 2. Please contact Marc Kolb at PG&E, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Germany

Leading German motoring body ADAC has conducted a comprehensive study of natural gas vehicle use, concluding that motorists keen on alternative fuels in Germany can save an average of 3 cents per kilometer or 450 Euros per year compared with gasoline models. The study compared 16 compressed natural gas (CNG) models with their gasoline equivalent over an estimated 15,000 kms per year for four years. Comparisons with diesel equivalent vehicles showed savings of 300 Euros per year.

India, Delhi

Commercial and public transport vehicles entering Delhi will soon have to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG) or face bans on travelling in the city. The Cutting Edge News reports that while the rules are apparently already in force, they have not been applied to date, but that situation is now to change. The report quotes Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit as saying, “While CNG has benefited Delhi immensely, the effect of CNG gets mitigated when vehicles from other states not using CNG enter the city.”

February 21 2008, Biogas Upgrading to Biomethane (6th Hanau Dialogue) conference hosted by the Institut für Solare Energieversorgungs Technik in Kassel, Germany.  More information. 

China, Beijing

Sinoenergy Corporation (Sinoenergy), a manufacturer of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle and gas station equipment and a designer, developer and operator of CNG filling stations in the People's Republic of China, has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Giant Power International Limited (GPI) for $US8.75 million. The Company signed a separate purchase agreement to acquire Qingdao Shan Yang Tai Chemistry Resources Development Co., Ltd. (QSYT) for $US5.33 million.

USA & China

China Natural Gas, Inc. a provider of compressed natural gas (CNG) for vehicular fuel in Xi'an, China, has acquired two new CNG filling stations in Jiaozuo City, Henan Province and one compressor station in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, which has the daily processing capacity of 100,000 to 150,000 cubic meters of CNG. The acquisitions will bring the number of the company's total CNG filling stations to 26 and the number of its compressor stations to two.

USA, Michigan

The number of vehicles on the road globally will top 1 billion by 2011, according to figures released last night at the Automotive News World Congress dinner by R. L. Polk & Co., a provider of marketing intelligence and insight to automakers around the world. The heavy growth will be fueled primarily by the rapidly expanding Asian market, which will see 5.7 percent compound annual growth in vehicles in operation (VIO) in the next three years.

USA

Mark your calendar!   NGVAmerica officially announced that the 2008 National NGV Conference-Summit will be held Saturday-Sunday October 4th-5th at the Omni Hotel in San Diego.  The Conference-Summit is timed to coincide with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) triennial International Transportation Expo, which takes place October 6th-8th at the San Diego Convention Center.

Argentina, Venezuela

450,000 units per year

Argentinean compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder manufacturer INFLEX ARGENTOIL is to invest more than $US15 million, in manufacturing CNG cylinders to supply Venezuela. Mr. Antonio Recca, General Manager of the company says more than half the CNG cylinders in operation around the world were manufactured by INFLEX, making the company well placed to supply the Venezuelan market.

Australia, India

Indian Oil Corporation, one of India’s largest petroleum marketing groups, has selected Australian based Eden Energy to supply and install the first public hydrogen dispensing station in India to supply fuel to motor vehicles running on either hydrogen or Hythane®, Eden’s proprietary blend of hydrogen and natural gas. With growing demand for vehicles in India, alternative fuels are proving an essential part of India’s energy mix, providing inherent environmental benefits at the same time.

Plying a ‘Blue Corridor’ Fueling Network

An international team is beginning to field vehicles as it works to bring the range advantages of liquefied natural gas to European trucking. The team is pursuing the necessary licenses and permits for LNG trucks to initially be supported by fueling facilities in Oss and then Dordrecht, in the south central part of The Netherlands. Eventually as many as 200 LNG trucks will ply European roads along “blue corridors,” according to Henk Verbeek, a consultant with Rolande LNG an LNG importer. For more details see Fleets and Fuels.

Last year, the German Greens Party commissioned a report on the potential of biogas in Europe. The Öko-Instituts and the Institut für Energetik in Leipzig carried out a study on the potential of biomethane in Europe.  The study came to the startling conclusion that, if current production trends continue, all of Europe's natural gas imports from Russia could be covered by locally produced biogas/biomethane within 20 years. Earlier, Ulrich Schmack, an energy advisor to the German government and manager of the world's largest biogas firm, came to the same conclusion, even though his projection created some controversy.