LESS THAN FOUR WEEKS TO GO - REGISTER NOW. 

Conference and Exhibition
SulAmerica Convention Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
June 3-5 2008

The world faces a scenario of frequent oil price increases, debates about global warming and discussions about biofuels causing food shortages. In the midst of it all, natural gas vehicles (NGVs) sit as a compelling alternative to reduce oil demand, improve energy security, and provide better environmental conditions and cleaner cities. NGV 2008, the 11th IANGV Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3rd – 6th, will bring together stakeholders from around the world to further the case for NGVs. This important event will be held at the new SulAmerica Convention Center, located at Cidade Nova, 1 km from Rio downtown area.

Germany, Munich 

Natural gas vehicles (NGVs) and biomethane as a fuel are proving to be a prominent drawcard at the 15th  International Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Refuse and Recycling (IFAT), currently underway in Munich. The fair features a world premiere showing of Dutch built Ravo street sweepers. The Ravo is powered by an Iveco natural gas engine, producing 136 hp and carrying a 2.9 tonne payload. On board fuel storage of 65 kgs provides enough fuel for an 8 hour shift without refueling. Also featured at IFAT were natural gas powered trucks and vans from Iveco and MercedesBenz.

Australia, Perth

Eden Energy, parent company of US based Hythane Company, is taking a bullish view of the Indian market, projecting growth of 1170% in the sales of hythane fueled buses over the coming 4 years. Their confidence is based on recent initiatives undertaken by the Indian Government, including a plan to use natural gas as a major vehicle and power generation fuel.

USA, Seal Beach CA

Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has been awarded a contract to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) for the City of Fresno, California municipal refuse fleet for up to five years, expanding a fueling relationship begun in 2004. The Fresno municipal refuse fleet now comprises 80 natural gas trucks and the city has ordered 22 additional natural gas trucks, making it the largest municipal liquefied natural gas refuse fleet in California's Central valley and second largest in California. Fresno is the 6th largest city in California.

USA, Pasadena CA

CALSTART has announced the winners of its Blue Sky Award™ 2008 with natural gas vehicle proponents again featuring strongly. The annual awards recognize outstanding marketplace contributions to clean air, energy efficiency and to the clean transportation industry overall by companies, organizations and individuals. Among the Blue Sky Award™ 2008 winners are:

• Business Region Goteborg of Sweden, won the Charles R. Imbrecht Blue Sky Innovation Award™ for catalyzing Sweden’s use of biomethane as a renewable transportation fuel now powering 4,500 natural gas cars, trucks and buses and a commuter train.

• Southern Counties Express, Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., won a Blue Sky Merit Award™ for buying a fleet of liquefied natural gas (LNG) port trucks and operating an LNG fueling station that is publicly available to the port trucking community.

(Further information) 

China, Beijing

Sinoenergy Corporation has announced the opening of a new retail compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station and completion of construction of another new retail CNG filling station. The newly opened retail CNG filling station, Jianxilu Station, is located in the city of Ping Ding Shan, Henan Province. It began to sell CNG for use in CNG powered vehicles late last month. Jianxilu Station is the first CNG filling station in Ping Ding Shan. The newly constructed Dawulu Station, also in Ping Ding Shan, is undergoing final equipment testing and is expected to commence operations later this month.

China, Chaoyang City

Chaoyang City's (Liaoning Province) transportation management department has recently held an introductory forum with the intention of accelerating natural gas vehicle use in the city.  Two compressed natural gas (CNG) stations have recently been put into service in the city. This number will double by 2010 by which time 3000 CNG taxis and buses are expected to be on the cities roads. 

USA, Los Altos CA

Baytech Corporation has received 2008 EPA and CARB certifications for their compressed natural gas (CNG) and propane fueled GM 8.1L and 6.0L heavy-duty engines. The heavy-duty engines, now available for new 2008 and 2009 model year vehicles, are offered in both dedicated CNG or propane and dual fuel (CNG or gasoline and propane or gasoline) configurations in all 50 US states.

USA, Livermore CA

Waste Management Inc. and Linde North America have agreed to work together to build a facility that will convert landfill gas into liquified natural gas at the Altamont landfill. The $15.5 million joint venture will receive grant assistance from the California Integrated Waste Management Board, the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Houston based solid waste company said the facility is expected to produce up to 13,000 gallons of liquified natural gas a day when it begins operations in 2009. 

USA, San Francisco

San Francisco's new city Green Taxi mandate has been boosted by a new contract with Clean Energy Fuels Corp. to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel and provide operations and maintenance for the CNG fueling station located near the base of the Golden Gate Bridge in the Presidio.  The station currently provides fuel for shuttle buses serving residents of and tourists at the Presidio, adjacent to the city's Marina District.  The agreement calls for opening the station to full public use by taxis and shuttles serving the City of San Francisco. 

USA, Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be buying up to 260 new high-capacity buses that run on cleaner-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The Metro Board has approved the purchase of the CNG buses including spare parts, diagnostic equipment, training aids and modifications for a contract value of almost $175 million, inclusive of sales tax, and subject to completion of the required Buy America Pre-Award audit. They will be purchased from North American Bus Industries.

Peru, Lima

Californian-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has opened what could be the world's largest public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station in Lima, Peru. The new station marks Clean Energy's first operations outside North America. Owned and operated by Clean Energy del Peru, a joint venture (JV) between Clean Energy and Energy Gas del Peru, the station is strategically located midway between downtown Lima, Peru's capital city, and the Lima International Airport. With thousands of taxis being converted to CNG each month and thousands of buses targeted for replacement with natural gas buses, this is the first of several fueling stations the JV anticipates constructing to support the expanding CNG vehicle and bus population in Peru. 

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.

The role of the earlier European Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ENGVA), based in the Netherlands, has from the start of 2008 been taken over by the new NGVA Europe, based in Spain. Many of the previous ENGVA members are now joining the new Association, but also other new members. Although we have been active already since the start of 2008, the official registration of the new Association, and its bylaws, could not be completed until late April 2008. 

Nigeria

Despite an abundance of crude oil, Nigeria’s Federal Government is reportedly in talks with companies looking to establish compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling infrastructure in the country. The Tide Online quotes Chief Emmanual Odusina, Minister of State for Energy (Gas) as saying proposals are under consideration for the establishment of pipeline networks to support CNG refueling stations. The Nigeria Gas Company has signaled its intentions to establish CNG stations in the past.

USA, Visalia CA

The town of Visalia, California recently added three new compressed natural gas (CNG) trolleys to its public transit fleet for its downtown free bus loop service.  They are part of an effort by city officials to put more cleaner-burning transit vehicles onto the streets, lessening the impact on the area's poor air quality. The trolleys replaced older diesel trolleys. "Compressed natural gas has many benefits -- it's about five times cleaner and it's cheaper," said Monty Cox, city transit manager.  He said prices for CNG are about $1 per gallon less than gasoline or diesel. While prices for those fuels are expected to rise during the summer months, Cox said, CNG prices usually go down in the summer because the need for heating goes down. The city has its own CNG fueling station. 

USA, Whitestown NY

Orion Bus Industries, the mass transit bus affiliate of Daimler Buses North America, has received an initial order for 60 Orion VII Next Generation CNG transit buses for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Long Island Bus, and also received confirmed options for 40 buses. In 1992, Long Island Bus began replacing its diesel bus fleet with buses operating using CNG. Now, the Long Island Bus fleet is made up almost entirely of CNG buses which service about 96 Long Island communities.

USA, Pasadena, CA

Calstart has announced the finalists competing for its prestigious Blue Sky AwardTM 2008. The Blue Sky Award^TM 2008 Finalists include:

• Business Region, Goteborg: for catalyzing Sweden's use of biomethane as a renewable fuel for transportation including 4,500 natural gas vehicles and municipal transit buses and a commuter train.
• PG&E Transportation Services: for implementing the greening of its fleet, including the use of natural gas, biodiesel and other alternative fuels to increase fuel efficiency.
• Southern Counties Express, Inc.: for committing to build and operate an LNG truck fueling station at its own facility that is publicly available to the port trucking community.

Canada, Vancouver

QuestAir Technologies Inc. has announced that it will supply an M-3200 pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to the ‘Biomethane for Vehicle Fuel’ project located at the Hilarides Dairy in Lindsay, California. Phase 3 Renewables LLC (Phase 3) will integrate QuestAir’s PSA into a plant that upgrades a portion of the biogas generated from the anaerobic digestion of manure at the 9,000-cow dairy in California. QuestAir’s M-3200 purifies methane-containing gas streams such as anaerobic digester gas and landfill gas to high purity methane, suitable for supplementing existing natural gas supplies. The system can upgrade up to 250,000 cubic feet of biogas per day.

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.