Rosneft Signs Agreements with VW and Kamaz to Boost Gas Engine Fuel Market

| Russia, Moscow

Russian oil and gas company OJSC Rosneft and LLC Volkswagen Group Russia have signed an agreement aimed at the development of the compressed natural gas (CNG) market in Russia, as well as the CNG-powered vehicles market. Rosneft has also signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation with vehicle manufacturer KAMAZ Truck Sp. z o.o. to expand use of natural gas as motor fuel. The agreements follow in the wake of the Russian Government’s decree to push NGV industry growth. Read more »

Westport Expects “Step Change” Growth for NG Engines in 2013

| Canada, Vancouver BC

Westport in ChinaWestport Innovations Inc., developer and manufacturer of natural gas engines has delivered its 1Q Fiscal report with a clear message from David Demers, CEO of Westport. “We are expecting a step change in growth over the course of this year and remain confident the market for natural gas as a fuel in trucking is here and now – not five or ten years down the road.” The company maintains its revenue outlook for up to 30% year over year growth. Read more »

Natural Gas Storage and Fuel System Development Agreement Signed by Quantum and ZHRO

| USA, Lake Forest CA

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., developer and producer of natural gas storage systems, integration and vehicle system technologies, recently entered into a Master Development Agreement with ZHRO™ Solutions, LLC (ZHRO), based in Chandler, Arizona, to develop fully-integrated compressed natural gas storage and fuel delivery systems for robust and cost-effective aftermarket conversion of medium and heavy duty diesel fleets to run on natural gas. Read more »

California Grant Supports Dual-Fuel Product Development for HD Vehicles

| United Kingdom and USA
Projected CO2 Savings over 5 years (Image: CAP)

Projected CO2 Savings over 5 years (Image: CAP)

Clean Air Power (CAP), developer of dual-fuel engine management software for heavy duty vehicles, has executed an agreement to receive a grant to support its development of a Genesis EDGE Dual-Fuel™ product for the important US market. CAP will receive approximately $2.6m between May 2013 and October 2014 to produce, demonstrate and refine a commercially viable Dual-Fuel product for the US market. Based on the assumption that the current Program timeline and deliverables are met, the majority of the funds are expected to be received by December 31 2013. Read more »

12-Litre LNG Fleet Serves Mission-Critical Owens Corning Route

| USA, Pittsburgh PA

“This generation of NG-fueled engines will transform the face of trucking.” — Patrick Cozzens, president of Modern Transportation

Modern Transportation, a U.S. bulk logistics solutions, has successfully deployed freight service to the Owens Corning Roofing Plant in Savannah, GA using trucks powered solely by 12-liter natural gas-fueled engines. The high volume, dedicated service established between Sanford, NC and Savannah, GA on April 18th, 2013, is said to be the first ever built around commercial-order, production-built Cummins Westport ISX12 G engines fueled exclusively with liquefied natural gas (LNG). Read more »

UPS Ramps Up Natural Gas Investment

| USA, Atlanta GA

UPS LNG tractorPlans to operate 700 new LNG vehicles across 10 states

UPS is accelerating growth of its alternative-fuelled vehicle fleet with plans to purchase approximately 700 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles and to build four refueling stations by the end of 2014. Once completed, the LNG private fleet will be one of the most extensive in the U.S. Read more »

Tesco Heavy Goods Transported with Gasrec Bio-LNG

| United Kingdom, London

Gasrec Bio_LNG installationBritish multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer Tesco has committed a fleet of heavy goods vehicles to fill up at facilities run by Gasrec, supplier of Bio-LNG. The deal will cut Tesco’s CO2 emissions by a minimum of 15 percent, with a 90 percent reduction in NOx and particulate matter emissions, helping Tesco to achieve its target of reducing emissions per case of goods delivered by 25 percent by 2020 (from 2011 baseline). Read more »

Bulgarian Company Buys 20 Iveco Stralis CNG

| Bulgaria, Plovdiv
Arena's new fleet reportedly the first CNG tractor fleet in the country

Arena’s new fleet reportedly the first CNG tractor fleet in the country

Puldin Trans Service Ltd., authorised Iveco dealer in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, delivered 20 tractors model AT440S33T / P Stralis CNG (compressed natural gas) to logistics company Arena IT in March this year. Thanks to its investment Arena IT will significantly reduce the response of the environment from its activities and has become the first company in Bulgaria to buy CNG-powered tractors. Read more »

Natural Gas Fastest Growing Transportation Fuel in USA

| USA
(Source: EIA)

(Source: EIA)

Heavy Duty Vehicles lead the growth - average annual growth rate of 14.6 percent

Natural gas, as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), is the fastest-growing fuel in the transportation sector in the USA, reports the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The agency projects an average annual growth rate of 11.9 percent from 2011 to 2040. Read more »

TravelCentres of America and Shell to Create LNG Refueling Network

| USA, Westlake OH

TravelCenters fuel stopTravelCenters of America LLC has entered a definitive agreement with Shell Oil Products U.S. to construct and operate a network of natural gas fueling lanes at TravelCenters locations along the U.S. Interstate Highway System. Shell has agreed to supply natural gas fuel to these locations and Shell and TA will separately market natural gas fuel to their respective customers. Read more »

Dual-Fuel Natural Gas Glider Extends Class 8 HD Truck Options in North America

| USA

APG Glider Kits now available with dual-fuel optionAmerican Power Group Corporation ‘s subsidiary American Power Group, Inc. (APG) has partnered with Fitzgerald Glider Kits and the WheelTime Network, a North American truck service network, to offer the nation’s first natural gas dual-fuel glider. A glider kit is basically a new truck delivered without an engine, transmission or accessory components and parts. Read more »

Acquisition by CNG One Source Broadens NGV Technology Scope

| USA, Erie PA

CNG One Source medium and heavy vehicle engines CNG//LNGCNG One Source Inc. of Pennsylvania has acquired Emission Solutions Inc of McKinney, Texas, a provider of natural gas vehicle technology for medium and heavy duty trucks. CNG One Source plans to bring additional benefits to market with its proprietary technology designs, which should lower the costs of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) engines and improve their performance. It will also develop a dealer network across the United States to provide for broader service of the natural gas engines. Read more »

BOC Welcomes Shell to Australia’s LNG Highway Developments

| Australia

HD Trucks on Australian HighwayGases and engineering company BOC, a member of The Linde Group, has been developing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fuelling infrastructure along the eastern seaboard of Australia, with LNG stations planned through the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Now, competitor Shell Australia is also to set up LNG refuelling, indicating the growing interest for this road transport fuel along one of Australia’s busiest heavy-duty transportation routes. Read more »

Volvo Showcases D13-LNG Engine Prototype

| USA
Volvo's D13-LNG engine will be available mid-2014

Volvo’s D13-LNG engine will be available second half of 2014

Volvo Trucks showcased its prototype D13-LNG engine during the 2013 Mid-America Trucking Show in March, referring to it as an integrated natural gas solution for the North American market. The Volvo D13-LNG compression-ignition engine utilizes liquefied natural gas (LNG) to deliver increased range and significant fuel efficiency improvements.  Read more »

Volvo Trucks and Shell Agreement to Widen Use of LNG in Transport Sector

| Sweden and Netherlands
Volvo FM Dual-Fuel (MethaneDiesel)

Volvo FM Dual-Fuel (MethaneDiesel)

Volvo Trucks and Shell have agreed to cooperate globally on the introduction of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a fuel for commercial heavy duty trucks. Based on Volvo’s new MethaneDiesel concept whereby LNG can be used in diesel engines, and Shell’s LNG expertise and infrastructure investments, the two companies will coordinate their activities and actively support the wider use of LNG in the transport sector. Read more »