News for the natural gas for transportation industry worldwide
The 2012 Blue Corridor rally stops over in Berlin.
At 08:00 on the 8th of September 2012 eight methane powered vehicles hit the road from Moscow to Paris and back for the ‘Blue Corridor-2012’ NGV Rally. While promotional in nature, the 6700 km – 17 day event provided an important insight into challenges and opportunities for the European natural gas fuels community. Read more »
2013 Fiat Panda
2013 Panda Natural Power: more power, more torque, less Co2
The new Fiat Panda 4×4, including a new Natural Power version, will be making its debut at the forthcoming international Paris Motor Show in a few days. Today’s third-generation four-wheel drive Panda Natural Power is equipped with a bi-fuel (natural gas and petrol) 80 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo engine to combine all the running cost and eco-friendly advantages of natural gas with Turbo TwinAir performance. Read more »
In a joint press release from the Italian Government and Fiat S.p.A., Fiat affirmed its commitment to preserving the Group’s industrial presence in Italy, including through the financial security provided by the Group’s activities outside Europe. The statement fits within the context of Italy’s economic austerity measures which have impacted Fiat and other manufacturers in the country and across Europe, evidenced by the recent decline of vehicle sales. Bloomberg reports, however, that sales of gas fuelled vehicles (natural gas and propane) are bucking the downward trend by delivering 114,226 new vehicle sales in August — rising to 11.6% of the market compared with 4.9% last year. Read more »
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 »
Fiat Qubo Natural Power
A study in Germany by the University of Duisburg-Essen’s Center for Automotive Research (CAR) has placed natural gas vehicles (NGVs) at the top of the biggest money saver list, according to an erdgas-mobil report. Heading the rankings are two gas-powered cars by Fiat: the Fiat Punto and the Fiat Qubo Natural Power. Over 100 kilometers, each vehicle consumes just 4.2 kilograms of natural gas. With an average gas price of EUR 0.99 (USD 1.26) per kg equivalent to the fuel costs of EUR 4.16 each (USD 5.30) – the current low mark in Germany.
Iveco, the Fiat Industrial Group company, presented its new Stralis LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) vehicle at the “Bedrijfsauto 2012”, held at the RAI exhibition centre in Amsterdam mid-April. This natural gas vehicle is designed for medium range distribution and night-time deliveries. The displayed vehicle was a two axle tractor unit with semi-trailer, Cursor 8 natural gas engine with a power rating 330 HP, manual gearbox, production line Intarder and EBS. It is built for applications carrying between 18 and 40 tons. Read more »
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of Fiat and Chrysler Group LLC, has stated in an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, that Chrysler plans to begin selling natural gas-powered pickups in the U.S. this year, targeting fleet customers, reports Bloomberg. “We are going to bring them here, there is no doubt,” Marchionne reportedly said, adding that natural gas engines are the “best option”. Chrysler executives have said they plan to begin deliveries of vehicles using the technology to the U.S. by 2017.
Fiat Panda
Fiat has presented its new Panda at the 64th Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), also known as the Frankfurt Motor Show. Making its appearance with a “new, modern and harmonious look”, this 3rd-generation Panda will begin production in the last quarter of 2011. A bi-fuel 80 HP 0.9 TwinAir Turbo Natural Power (petrol/compressed natural gas) variant will follow the petrol-engined vehicles into production. Read more »
Credit Suisse, named in 2011 as the best private bank globally, has pointed investors’ eyes toward alternatives to oil, such as natural gas, recognising the shifts in energy demand and the emergence of natural gas technology within the transportation sector, reports Affaritaliani. The bank is reportedly recommending the purchase of securities linked to the production and distribution chain of natural gas vehicles (NGV), which are increasingly seen as reliable and a competitive alternative to diesel or gasoline cars and which have the advantage of having a smaller environmental impact. Read more »
Upward US fuel prices may stimulate alt-fuel vehicle interest (Chart: EIA)
Chrysler could bring natural gas vehicles (NGVs) to the North American market in as little as two and a half years, but Fiat NGVs are unlikely despite their success in Europe, reports Fleets&Fuels (F&F) seeking to clarify earlier media comment on Chrysler’s intentions. Robert (Bob) Lee, Chrysler engine, electrified propulsion, and advance powertrain engineering VP, told F&F there are several criteria to be satisfied first. Read more »
