Australia, Perth

The Australian Government has approved a 'Commercial Ready Plus Grant' to assist Advanced Engine Components (AEC) Limited develop natural gas (NG) engine and vehicle technology for the Isuzu 295 and 510hp engines. AEC’s current development programme will enable the 295 and 510hp Isuzu vehicle operators to convert their diesel engines to CNG or LNG engines through the incorporation of AEC’s NGVS. Once converted, vehicles operating on NG will comply with Euro 4 emission standards (required under new legislation effective 1 January 2008) and maintain the same performance as the diesel equivalent.

UK, Birmingham

Hydrogen 'Microcabs' part of research project
Station powered by renewable energy

The UK’s first hydrogen gas fuelling station has opened at the University of Birmingham's Department of Chemical Engineering where research projects are being carried out to ascertain the viability of hydrogen in transport applications as part of Birmingham’s Science City hydrogen energy project. Engineers will be comparing five hydrogen powered vehicles with the University’s own fleet of petrol, diesel and pure ‘electric’ vehicles so that they can learn more about their efficiency and performance.  The researchers will determine how these vehicles need to be adapted in order to make hydrogen an attractive and cost effective option as a future fuel.

Austria

After starting previous seasons with fairly conservative and humble goals in mind, the OMV backed compressed natural gas (CNG) rally team in Austria has its sights firmly set on taking first place for this year's Austrian rally championship season. The season commences next week with the LICO Lavanttal Rally on April 4-5. The OMV team is unchanged from last year, with Beppo Harrach and Andreas Schindlbacher as driver and co-driver respectively and driving a CNG Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX modified by Stohl-Racing. One change this year though will be that the vehicle will be fuelled 100 percent with pure renewable biomethane.

Australia, Perth

Eden Energy Ltd. through its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary Hythane Company LLC, has announced it has received a U.S. patent for its cryogenic storage vessels for liquid hydrogen. Among the applications, the new technology will advance the practicality of hydrogen cars by optimizing energy storage, reducing or eliminating the need for bulky lithium ion batteries. 

Austria

Collaboration in Upper Austria has resulted in what's believed to be the world's first natural gas powered Harley Davidson, a prototype delivered after nine months of intensive development. Dr Johann Grünberger, Chairman of the Upper Ferngas AG, reportedly said, "This Harley Davidson was not only stylish, but also an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient consumption motorcycle. Therefore, the project has received our support." The project is yet another outcome of the increased awareness of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a fuel of choice in Austria. For full story see here (in German only). 

Austria

Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX to be 100 percent biogas operated

The OMV CNG (compressed natural gas) Rally Team is currently gearing up for the 2008 Austrian Championship, this time to be powered by biomethane (biogas). The cooperation between OMV Gas International Ltd., Stohl-Racing and the driver-duo Beppo Harrach and Andreas Schindlbacher is expected to yield another high performance year, building on the successes of 2006 and 2007. Their confidence is built on new techniques for production of clean natural gas from bio sources, in particular the unique work being done at the OMV funded biogas plant in Bruck / Leitha (Lower Austria) funded by OMV's Future Energy Fund.

Germany, Berlin

Save money and environment

Natural gas buses are more economical than diesel buses, according to an investigation carried out by economic consulting firm WIBERA. In addition to the undoubted environmental benefits, natural gas buses can also score points with economic benefits. The study showed that in a realistic full cost comparison natural gas buses are more than 3,000 euros per year cheaper than diesel buses.

Switzerland, Geneva

Volkswagen has unveiled its Passat Estate TSI EcoFuel concept car at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. The EcoFuel concept’s engine can be fuelled by either natural gas or conventional petrol and comes with both a supercharger and a turbocharger which operate sequentially to provide relatively high power outputs from what is a small capacity, 1.4 litre power unit.

Switzerland, Geneva

"Near production" concept vehicle on display in Geneva

Hyundai has put their i-blue range on show at the 2008 Geneva International Motor Show, featuring a new compressed natural gas (CNG) variant. Though the company has also designed a diesel variant it describes the CNG version as the "ultimate solution of an ecologically optimized vehicle", due to the use of a newly developed 0.8L 3-cylinder turbocharged CNG engine (98PS). The i10 blue CNG reaches class leading level of just 65g/km CO2. Small it may be but according to Hyundai the CO2 savings and surprising power output will make up for any size concerns buyers may have; output of 96.6hp from the tiny motor gives the i10 blue a specific output of 120.75hp/L.

USA, Washington DC. 

New Website - What Do You Know About Hydrogen? H2 and You
Hydrogen Conference - 30 March April 3

The US National Hydrogen Association's Hydrogen Education Foundation has launched a nationwide educational campaign to increase understanding about hydrogen.  The initiative includes targeted public relations and the new, informative website: www.H2andYou.org .  The website has been designed to act as a destination for those wanting to learn more about hydrogen while highlighting, in laymen's terms, new ways hydrogen is being used today and how these uses relate to things people really care about.  The site will answer common questions; present examples of market-ready hydrogen products that provide real energy solutions today; and offer video, podcasts and links to hydrogen news stories.