Demand for NGVs Increases Despite Depressed German Automarket

| Germany

Sales rise almost 60 percent. dena recommends extending tax reductions

In spite of a major decrease in the overall car sales figures in Germany, the demand for natural-gas powered vehicles increased almost 60 percent in the first quarter of 2013 compared with the same period in the previous year. This fact was highlighted by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) – the German Energy Agency – and the “Initiative for Natural-Gas-Based Mobility” based on the data reported recently by the German Federal Motor Transport Authority. Read more »

California Continues Funding for NGV Projects

| USA, Sacramento CA

CECThe California Energy Commission has approved funding for a number of projects that will support increased numbers of cleaner, alternative fuel vehicles on California roadways, thereby helping the state meet its climate change goals. The awards were made through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology (ARFVT) Program, created by Assembly Bill 118. 2013-2014 funding priorities have also been set, with both programs including support for natural gas vehicle projects. Read more »

Florida Passes Incentive Package for Natural Gas Vehicle Adoption

| USA, Miami FL
Honda Civic Natural Gas joins Florida State University fleet, 2012 (Image FSU)

Honda Civic Natural Gas joins Florida State University fleet, 2012 (Image FSU)

The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday has approved a tax incentive package that provides incentives for vehicle operators in the State to embrace natural gas vehicles. According to the Energy and Utilities Sub-committee Summary Analysis, Bill H.B.579 “creates establishes a fuel tax structure for natural gas used as a motor fuel similar to that for diesel fuel beginning January 1, 2019, thereby exempting natural gas fuel from fuel taxes for five years.” Read more »

Sweden Extends Alt-Fuel Tax Incentive for 3 Years

| Sweden, Stockholm

Servicing NGV in SwedenThe Government of Sweden has extended the reduced tax benefit on company cars powered by alternative fuels for another three years, seen as a stimulus to sales of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) by member-funded industry organisation Energigas Sweden. More natural gas vehicles on the road will reduce emissions, especially given natural gas fuel in the country comprises more than 50% biomethane derived from renewable resources. Read more »

South Korea Government Considers NGV Promotion Measures

| South Korea | Source: Korean Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (KANGV)
Refueling with CNG in Donghae, Korea

Refueling with CNG in Donghae, Korea

As a part of taxi fuel diversification project, South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM) is reviewing supportive measures for green car development and supply promotion, which is drawing attention from city gas industry, reports the Korean Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (KANGV). The review is being driven by increased public and private demand for conversion of vehicles to natural gas operation. Read more »

British Columbia Fleets Receive Funding for Natural Gas Vehicles

| Canada, Surrey BC

​Communities around the Canadian province of British Columbia will soon see more than 150 new natural gas-powered vehicles (NGVs) on the road after energy utility FortisBC awarded approximately $6 million in incentives early March to transportation operators to purchase compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles for their fleets. Read more »

Fiat Introduces March Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles

| Italy
Fiat Panda bi-fuel Natural Power

Fiat Panda bi-fuel Natural Power

Fiat Group Automobiles (FGA) has developed and implemented a  comprehensive strategy to render mobility green through a combination of human and technological factors. One of those factors, the first in line for FGA is to introduce incentives for the month of March, for the purchase of Fiat Group compressed natural gas or LPG-fuelled commercial vehicles and cars. Customers will be able to buy Fiat and Lancia bi-fuel cars, besides the commercial vehicles of Fiat Professional, with an incentive at least equivalent to that set by the government.
Read more »

Italian Alt-Fuel Incentives Start March 2013

| Italy, Milan

Logo - metanoItalian alternative-fuel vehicle buyers will qualify for government incentives as from March 14, including buyers of dedicated and bi-fuel natural gas vehicles (NGVs), for qualifying vehicles. The upper CO2 emissions limit has been set at 120 g/km, with the amount of incentive being defined within emission level bands. Vehicles can not have been previously registered. Read more »

Philippine Government Passes Incentives to Stimulate Alt-Fuel Vehicle Uptake

| Philippines, Manila

Philippines traffic congestion - emission levels are highAt the end of January 2013, the Philippine Senate passed Senate Bill No. 2856 entitled An Act Providing Incentives for the Manufacture, Assembly, Conversion and Importation of Electric, Hybrid and other Alternative Fuel Vehicles, and for Other Purposes. Under “Alternative Fuels”, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) is amongst the fuels specified. A number of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives are notated. Read more »

Growing NGV Refueling Stations and NGV Fuel in Sweden

| Sweden

Sävsjö biogas plant generating fuel for NGVs

FordonsGas Sverige AB is to build a new refueling station in Sweden, supplying biomethane for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the southern province of Småland. The station follows the inauguration of a new biogas plant in Sävsjö, in September. The renewable biogas, produced by the plant from manure from local farms, slaughterhouse waste, grass and other organic waste, results in reduced use of gasoline and diesel in transport. It is expected to supply approximately 19 GWh of biogas per year, representing approximately 2.1 million gallons of gasoline. Read more »

Trinidad and Tobago Budget Addresses Crippling Fuel Subsidies with CNG

| Trinidad and Tobago

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT) is desperate to reduce the huge fuel subsidy which accounts for some two-thirds of the country’s budget deficit, by moving the transportation sector to compressed natural gas (CNG) and away from diesel fuel. This has been an open agenda for the past two years, but the slow transition means the government is seeking to introduce new measures to progress the uptake of CNG. The national budget presented for the 2012/2013 year contains such measures. Read more »

Honda and Clean Energy Jointly Provide Fuel Cards to New Civic Natural Gas Vehicle Buyers

| USA

Honda Civic Natural Gas

Automotive manufacturer American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Clean Energy Fuels Corp, natural gas fuel supplier and station operator, will work together with participating Honda dealers in the US to provide an incentive to customers purchasing a new 2012 Civic Natural Gas Vehicle – a debit card pre-loaded with USD 3,000 that can be used at Clean Energy CNG fueling stations around the country to purchase fuel. The moves seeks to capture market advantage accorded by rising gasoline prices and builds on the gaining momentum of Civic Natural Gas sales. Read more »

Natural Gas Taxis and Vans in Netherlands Qualify for Purchase Subsidy

| The Netherlands

CNG filling station dispenser (Image: CNG Net)

In the Netherlands, buyers of a new taxi or van can receive funding from October 1 when they choose clean technology. Factory-fitted natural gas vehicles qualify for a EUR 1,250 (USD 1,608) grant. The subsidy, which earlier this month has been notified to the European Commission, is intended to improve air quality in inner cities, where taxis and courier vans make multiple relatively short journeys. There is EUR 25 million (USD 32 million) available from the National Air Quality Cooperation Programme (NSL). Read more »

Nottingham City Trials Natural Gas MAN EcoCity Bus

| United Kingdom, Nottingham

Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is currently trialling a MAN EcoCity natural gas-powered bus as part of its ongoing exploration into finding alternative fuel-powered vehicles. The bus, now in its third week of a 10-week trial, has been designed specifically for the UK market and is currently on demonstration in partnership with MAN Truck & Bus UK in Swindon, the UK subsidiary of the Munich-based truck and bus manufacturer. So far, the news is all good for the city. Read more »

New Fiat Siena Tetra Fuel comes with Incentives for Taxi Operators

| Brazil, Recife | Source: vrum

Fiat Grand Siena Tetra Fuel MY 2013

Last week in Recife, Brazil, the managing director of Fiat Chrysler Financial for Latin America, Pablo di Si was joined by the Governor of the state of Pernambuco, Eduardo Campos, and representatives of government and the Copergás Taxi Drivers’ Union to unveil the new Grand Siena Tetra Fuel, a Fiat model that is unique to the country, reports vrum. The 1.4 liter 75 hp Siena, which  can operate on gasoline, ethanol, alcohol and compressed natural gas (CNG), was presented as an incentivised alternative for taxi operators wanting to use CNG. Read more »