Approximately 90 equipment and services providers and California and federal energy department officials participated in a NGV Technology Forum (NGVTF) in Downey CA last week to assess technology challenges and opportunities and provide input concerning future R&D program investments. This was the first meeting of the reconstituted NGVTF, which is funded by US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with potential co-funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC).
NGVTF’s mission is to identify and prioritize vehicle-, engine- and station-technology advancement projects for potential co-funding by DOE, CEC, other states’ energy R&D programs and industry partners. DOE’s funding of the Clean Vehicle Education Foundation (CVEF) coordination of NGVTF activities are in addition to funding for NGV codes and standards activities, but current DOE budgets do not include any NGV RDD&D funds.
NGVAmerica is working on several legislative initiatives to secure federal NGV RDD&D funding. CEC’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program is designed to advance the state’s energy independence roadmap including possible funding for NGV technology R&D projects. In addition, the CEC has substantial funds in its Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (commonly referred to the as AB118 program, after the authorizing CA legislation), and is developing guidelines and requests for proposals to deploy alternative fuels and vehicles, including ‘potentially’ NGVs and stations.
NGVTF is tentatively slated to convene four times per year including two webcast meetings. For more information about the NGVTF, contact CVEF’s Doug Horne at 440424-8575 or dbhorne1@comcast.net.
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