General Physics Corporation has been awarded a contract by the City of Los Angeles's Department of General Services Fuel Services and the Environmental Compliance Division Alternative Fuels Group for the design and construction of a liquefied natural gas and liquefied-to-compressed natural gas fueling station. The contract also includes upgrades to an existing vehicle maintenance facility to enable indoor maintenance and repair of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. General Physics was awarded the fixed-priced contract through a competitive bidding process.

Torino, Italy

Industry members have been kept busy during a week of events at the 2nd NGV World Fair, held in Torino, Italy this week. Three days of exhibitions, two days of conference proceedings, a technical tour as well as meetings of NGVA Europe and the IANGV left little time for sightseeing at the event. Organisers report that more than 1,000 visitors attended the exhibition on the first day which also included a free conference program featuring speakers on policy, product and programs. Fiat took center stage for the event, held at the Ligotto Fiere, next door to Fiat's postwar factory, which now serves as a shopping centre and hotel complex. The event proved an opportunity to highlight Fiat's dominance in the natural gas vehicle market, with 75% of market share in Italy and 60% of market share in Europe.

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

23 November, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

ANGVA has now issued a brochure with details of the upcoming ANGVA CNG Cylinder Safety Workshop to be held in Dhaka Bangladesh, November 23rd. Copies of the brochure can be found here. ANGVA is also holding a workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia the following week. Details of that event can be found here.

Canada, Vancouver

Green technology now has the potential to be a game-changing industry for Canada, according to John Ruffolo, National Leader, Technology, Media & Telecommunications Industry Group, Deloitte. “The Deloitte Technology Green 15 Award recognizes those Canadian companies that offer solutions to global environmental challenges by creating intellectual property and technology that reduce society’s environmental impact,” he said. Two receivers of the award this year are QuestAir Technologies Inc. and Westport Innovations Inc.

USA, Michigan

A waste-to-energy plant planned for Flint, Michigan has been awarded a $4 million grant from the state, paving the way for Swedish company, Swedish Biogas International, to partner with the city. Swedish Biogas International has set up a US based subsidiary which will build the facility next to the city's wastewater treatment plant. An additional $3 million in Swedish government and private investment is also to be applied for the project. A ground breaking ceremony for the project was attended by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf along with Michigan's Governor, a Michigan senator, the Major of Flint, the Swedish Ambassador to the USA, and the US Ambassador to Sweden. Biomethane from the plant will be used as heating fuel and to fuel vehicles.

USA, California

Now Providing Natural Gas Fueling at 20 US Airports

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. will own, operate and supply fuel for new compressed natural gas (CNG) public access stations to support airport operations in Atlanta and Oklahoma City. In the Atlanta area, the City of College Park, Georgia, contracted with Clean Energy to design, construct and manage a public access CNG fueling station on City-owned property located less than a mile from the entrance to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, among the busiest in the world.  The facility is designed to serve a range of light, medium and heavy duty vehicles, including regional public transit buses, municipal vehicles, refuse hauling trucks, and airport parking, hotel, and employee CNG shuttle buses.  The station will open in two weeks. In Oklahoma City, Will Rogers World Airport officials contracted with Clean Energy to build and manage a large-scale public access CNG fuel station.  Located on airport property, the new facility will serve - in addition to CNG-powered airport transit and shuttle vehicles - a growing number of CNG fleets in the area. The station will begin construction in two weeks.

Austria

Mechanical difficulties unrelated to the engine have spoiled the chances of success for the OMV CNG Rally team at the Admont Rally for the third year in a row. Driver Beppo Harrach and co-driver Andreas Schindlbacher were coming in third place in their biomethane fueled vehicle until the final three stages when technical difficulties, including damage to tyres, shock absorbers and brake lines saw the team lose ground to sixth place overall. Harrach says the Admont Rally is proving to be a curse for the team, with complications also arising when they competed in the 2006 and 2007 events.

Germany, Hanover

Italian OEM, Fiat is to showcase 2 new models powered by natural gas, the Ducato and Fiorino Combi Natural Power, at the Hanover International Motor Show, in Germany, from September 25 to October 2. The Ducato Natural Power van has a bi-fuel natural gas/petrol system, fueling a three liter engine with an output of 136 hp (100 kW) on natural gas. Five under floor mounted CNG cylinders with a total capacity of 220 litres delivers a driving range of 400 kms. The Fiorino Combi Natural Power, also a bi-fuel vehicle, sports a 1.4 litre engine with a 65 hp output. Carbon dioxide emissions are 136 g/km on natural gas compared to 164 g/km on gasoline. The Fiorino has two under floor mounted cylinders with a total capacity of 86 litres and delivering a driving range of 300 kms.

USA, Portland

The CNG fuelled Honda Civic GX, could soon have company on the OEM compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle list in the US with Toyota 'confirming  interest' in CNG vehicles. Continuing down the popular Toyota hybrid path Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., will test the waters with a compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept vehicle to go on show at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. “With the combination of plentiful long-term supplies in North America, improved and more efficient recovery methods, favorable pricing and clean-burn/low emissions characteristics, CNG has become a prime energy-source for the future,” said Irv Miller, group vice president, TMS Corporate Communications. “With this concept, we are confirming our interest in pursuing CNG within our broad and comprehensive R&D scope.”

Bangladesh, Dhaka

Bangladesh distributor for Indian OEM Tata, Nitol Motors, has launched a CNG variant of  Tata's Ace Pickup. Press reports from Bangladesh say the Ace comes with 2 CNG cylinders with  a total capacity of 70 litres and a driving range of 200kms. The Ace carries a 700 cc Euro III engine and a full service warranty. The Ace is available with an open or covered load tray.

Czech Republic, Prague

0% excise and road tax rates for CNG
Monthly gas pricing reviews to ensure price advantage
1,153 natural gas vehicles but growing
17 CNG fueling stations operational - 8 more expected by year end
Prague conference scheduled for January 2009

With road transport currently growing in the Czech Republic, by 12 per cent every year, promoting natural gas vehicle use is one of the major measures intended to reduce pollutant emissions from transport. In May 2005 the Czech Government approved the Programme of Support for Alternative Fuels in Transport – Natural Gas. The programme set forth some solutions that have since helped to create a stable and attractive environment for the development of natural gas use in transport.

Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Malaysia - 27th November 2008 (Tractors Engineering Complex, Puchong, Kuala Lumpur)
Bangladesh - 23rd November (Details TBC)

The Asia-Pacific Natural Gas Vehicles Association (ANGVA) is commencing a series of one day workshop on compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder safety. The workshops are presented by Bernand James, from TransEnerTech, Canada, who was recently awarded an IANGV Champion award for his services to the industry. Modules to be presented include an overview of cylinder safety, 'cylinders 101', cylinder handling and installation and cylinder inspection. The workshops are available for ANGVA members and non-members. Interested parties can register for the Malaysian event on this registration form. The Bangladesh registration form is due to be released soon.