Autogas-Network Ltd

MAN CNG Bus in Liverpool

2011-10-05T16:49:00.000+01:00

Stagecoach Tests
October 1, 2011 | United Kingdom, Liverpool
Stagecoach, one of the UK’s biggest bus operators, has launched a six-week trial in Liverpool of a new hi-tech bus powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) – the first trial of the MAN-manufactured vehicle in the UK. The 12-metre single-decker EcoCity bus has an engine that is quieter than traditional diesel-engined vehicles and also has significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than standard buses.

The bus can also run on biomethane, a fuel already used by Stagecoach as part of a project in Lincoln, England.

The low-floor bus, which is right-hand drive for the UK market, is expected to meet the new Euro 6 engine emissions standards, which come into force on 1 January 2014.

Natural Gas Engine in Fixed Location

While CNG fuelling infrastructure in the UK is in its infancy, there is no need for large stocks of fuel to be managed and stored in a bus depot, because gas is drawn from the national grid as required. For the purposes of this trial however, a Stagecoach spokesperson informed NGV Global News that the EcoCity bus will be fuelled by a portable rig supplied by MAN.

Stagecoach is already the UK’s leading investor in greener hybrid electric buses and the evaluation of the gas bus is part of the company’s wide-ranging commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.

Sam Greer, Stagecoach UK Bus Regional Director, said: “We are looking forward to testing the performance of the gas bus in Liverpool over the next six weeks. This will allow us to compare its fuel consumption and operating costs against other types of vehicles in our fleet. We continue to look at a variety of technologies to help reduce our carbon footprint and offer greener, smarter and better value transport to our customers.”

MAN has already supplied more than 7,000 CNG buses that now operate throughout the world. Fleets of MAN buses are already running on biomethane in both Sweden and the Netherlands.

Tony Griffiths, of MAN Truck and Bus UK Ltd, said: “We’re thrilled to have a major operator such as Stagecoach running these very important initial UK trials. MAN gas-engine technology has been well-proven throughout the rest of the world, and we are confident it can contribute a significant reduction in costs and emissions – both central to the future of passenger transport and the UK environment.”

Last year, Stagecoach Group was awarded the prestigious Carbon Trust Standard after taking action on climate change by measuring and reducing its carbon emissions. It covers all of the Group’s bus and rail operations in the UK.

Real Alternatives CNG/LPG/Electric-Hybrids

2011-09-13T16:30:00.002+01:00

A debate has once again been raised with regard to the future of clean technology and in particular the electric car. Whilst many of the issues on which this debate is based are genuine, they in fact fail to get to the heart of the matter. It therefore seems worthwhile to address some of central issues directly.

The Global Problem of Oil’s Monopoly in the Transport Sector

At the heart of the matter is the simple fact that a number of threatening global issues cannot be dealt with unless we end the effective monopoly of petroleum products in the transportation sector:

CNG Bus

Economic security – the monopoly position currently enjoyed by oil leaves the global economic cycle very exposed to the gyrations of both the oil price and political instability in the Arab world – an arena which continues to be very volatile. It is no co-incidence that the recession and financial calamity of 2008 was preceded by a sharp rise in the price of oil or that the same has been true of the softening of the recovery this year. Oil is the only strategic commodity capable of having such a disruptive impact on the economic cycle and frankly the world’s oil reserves are largely concentrated in hands which don’t necessarily appear to act in favor of stability.

National Security – oil’s monopoly position ensures a continued flow of funds into the national economies of nations who are not particularly friendly to the interests of the US or western democracy as a whole.

Global warming and associated abnormal weather patterns. I have no wish to get embroiled in the current debate over climate science. However, the risks are clearly there whether or not we fully understand the processes at work. Most importantly, climate science predicts not just a warming of the planet over time but more importantly a proliferation of abnormal weather patterns – more frequent occurrence of droughts and floods etc. That is exactly what we are seeing. If climate science is correct these disruptions will continue to get worse. I don’t believe that the precise interactions at work here can be definitively proven. Only time will tell. However, all the risk is that this is another factor likely to increasingly influence both policy-makers and consumers.

That transport fuels are inherently inefficient at transferring 'fuel energy' into 'motive energy' as evidenced by the fact that the Internal Combustion Engine is around 25% fuel efficient. The rest is wasted as heat. This waste costs money and can be addressed by additional and complimentary technologies, such as the ICE-Electric Hybrids.

I don’t feel the need to argue the precise detail related to each of these points. The fact of the matter is simply that, taken together, they represent inordinate risks to the global policy environment – risks which we largely face because we accept the monopoly position enjoyed by oil in the transportation sector.

No matter which way you look at it, one or other of these issues will keep rearing their head until we address them. As we have seen this year, developments on a global scale will simply keep bringing us back to the essential dilemma that oil’s monopoly needs to be dealt with.

That will continue to influence both policy-makers and consumers. The pressure on these issues may die down for a while – but only until the next oil shock or some other calamity. Consequently, time and again we will be brought back to the fact that we have to allow and encourage a free market in alternatives to oil in the transportation sector.

The essential point to understand is simply that these issues will keep coming to the forefront of the policy agenda until dealt with – and that both policy-makers and consumers will increasingly move towards solutions.

Resource Scarcity and Replacing Oil as a Strategic Commodity

The problem is of course that given the all-pervasive use of oil in the transport sector, it is extremely difficult to find a single technology or commodity capable of replacing it on its own. This is particularly true in the face of the growing demands on the earth’s limited resources which are rising relentlessly due to both population growth and the shift in global incomes towards poorer populations. Whilst the later factor is of course desirable, it produces an inexorable rise in global demand.

These factors have of course been prominent in creating the very need for clean technology and the related need for an end to oil’s monopoly in the transport sector. However, they also suggest that we are likely to face supply constraints across a range of commodities going forward – particularly those related to new demand for high-tech solutions.

These issues are extremely important and point to a number of conclusions:

It would be a grave mistake for anyone in the green community to see the electric vehicle or any other single technology as a simple solution to the problem of the way in which we fuel the transport sector.

It would be an equally grave major mistake for governments to try to pick winners or force a single solution to these problems. The end result would likely be alternative supply constraints and difficulties.

We need to let the free market do its job.

And this brings us to the heart of the matter. The problem with oil is not simply that it is a limited natural resource with an associated highly volatile price. Many other commodities face the same problems. What makes the problem with oil significantly different is that it is in a monopoly position as the sole strategic commodity in the transport sector.

Where the free market is allowed to function properly, the pricing mechanism creates proper resource allocation and usage, alters the pattern of demand and generates demand for alternatives, stimulating investment and innovation. It’s not perfect but it works. It gets the private sector moving on the deliverance of solutions.

Conversely, there are massive barriers to entry in terms of refueling the transport sector and this does not allow the market to flexibly adjust to supply constraints and use a multiplicity of solutions in order to spread demand across a range of resources.

The bottom line is that governments get themselves into trouble when they pour money speculatively into specific solutions. It’s not the government’s role to pick winners. However, it is the government’s job to act against monopolistic barriers to entry and to ensure a free market. That’s what needs to be done with regard to oil’s monopoly role in the transport sector.

The electric car has a role here. Not as the single solution to the problem but rather as one of a range of potential solutions. The most rational path forward is to break down the barriers to entry, allow free competition and let the market do the rest. A few steps forward seem appropriate:

CNG Trucks

Greater use of natural gas in the trucking [and bus] sectors. The Natural Gas Act would aid the roll-out of natural gas filling stations across specific trucking corridors. [Including bio-methane from food, human and farm wastes]

The Open Fuel Standard Act. For the cost of merely $100 per vehicle, new cars can be produced with the capacity to take ethanol, methanol and other biofuels as they are developed. Again, simple free competition. Open the market, innovation will do the rest.

The role of the electric vehicle is clear. It is certainly not to entirely replace oil. However, it can add an alternative source of power. This is the only way we can spread demand in the transportation sector across a range of finite natural resources. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in particular when combined with the Open Fuel Standard will allow competition between various forms of liquid fuels, gaseous fuels and electricity. Let the consumer decide.

Greater use of electricty as a clean energy solution also requires that we move towards cleaner technologies in power generation itself. Increased use of natural gas to meet base load requirements, combined with a 33% Renewable Energy Standard such as that in place in California would seem like a reasonable step forward.

CNG Train in Europe

What is clear is that the issues of population growth, the spread of income growth to the world’s poorer nations and the resultant demand growth, mean that oil simply cannot continue to play its current role for the rest of this century. The solution is not to force the march on any one single alternative. It is to break down the barriers to entry and allow the free market to provide a range of solutions. This is the only way to deal with the very real problems of resource scarcity that we face in the years ahead.

The Forces Behind Electrification Are Already in Play

Most importantly, it appears that the factors behind the increasing development of various forms of EV alternatives are already in play. The single most important factor has probably been the new CAFE standards here in the States. These will help produce more fuel-efficient vehicles based on the internal combustion engine (ICE). However, automakers appear to have realized that in order to make the grade they will have to innovate and adopt a greater use of EV technology across their respective model ranges.

This has, for example, led recently to a number of announcements in the EV field from General Motors (GM), clearly pointing to the company’s commitment to moving forward:

The announcement of a battery pack deal with A123 Systems – see here

The announcement of a plug-in hybrid Cadillac ELR, based on the Converj.

The announcement late last week of a broadening of the company’s collaboration with LG – see here.

What is becoming clear is that we are likely to see a range of approaches and battery sizes. The most interesting is probably Toyota’s (TM) approach with the plug-in Prius, which will have a small Lithium battery capable of covering some 13 miles or so. Nevertheless, it is competition at the fuel pump. Combined with an Open Fuel Standard, this has the potential to be the car of the future. Or certainly one of them.

Battery Efficiencies and Cost Reduction

Opponents of clean energy and the electric vehicle for some peculiar reason like to show charts of the improvement in disk capacity or CPU speed in the IT industry compared to, for example, battery energy density. The purpose is no doubt to illustrate the point that the laws of chemistry do not allow electric batteries to provide the kind of exponential improvements in efficiency as seen in the IT industry and described by Moore’s Law. Whilst this is true, it is also entirely irrelevant. There is absolutely no reason to expect battery technology to replicate the efficiency gains of the IT world. Most importantly, such efficiency gains are not exhibited by the internal combustion engine nor in any other technology that electric batteries or clean technology actually competes with in the real world. So let’s leave the wonders of the IT industry aside and focus on the realities of energy and the transport sector.

It is nevertheless true that the electric batteries currently in production are certainly expensive and have not in general managed to breach the question of range anxiety without significant cost or a back-up generator. So where will the improvements come from? Let me focus on a few significant points:

Any analysis based on the reputed cost structure faced by A123 Systems (AONE), which puts at battery costs at $1,000 per kWh, is not particularly insightful in a discussion of the future of the EV market as a whole. Developments in the overall EV market will clearly be driven by the more efficient producers, of which A123 Systems is currently not one.

Tesla’s (TSLA) Model S appears to have significant potential to alter the metrics in the EV market. The company has of course not released cost details of its new battery packs. However, the company has provided literature suggesting that on a $ per kWh basis the battery pack of the Model S is down to 42% of the cost of the original battery pack for the first version of the Roadster. The Roadster Sport had already gotten those costs down to 69%, so the gains continue to be impressive. The further expected gains are no doubt based on the Custom 18650 automotive cell in development with Panasonic.

That is why Tesla appears to be able to suggest that when the 300 mile version of the Model S is released next year it will cost somewherearound $75,000. There appears to be a demand for such a luxury EV and those metrics start to offer an interesting option in the luxury car market.

Efficiency gains that have been made elsewhere should also be recognized. For example, the new Ford Focus BEV has a 70-mile single-charge range, similar to that offered by the Nissan Leaf. However, the company claims that its 23 kwh battery pack can be charged with a Level 2, 240-volt charger in 3-4 hours - almost twice as fast as the Leaf.

Looking forward on a more medium-term basis, potential advances will no doubt come from new innovation related to alternative battery technologies – particularly related to Vanadium for example. Again, it is not necessary to try and pick winners. It’s simply the case that competition will spur innovation. These new technologies are of course a threat to lithium battery specialists such as A123 Systems. However, they are nothing but a potential boon to a company such as Tesla, who is not tied to a particular battery system and who could work with whatever a Panasonic or alternative can provide in the future most cost effectively.

Perhaps the most significant point is that further gains, particularly in lower end commuter-orientated EVs and PHEVs, are likely to come from other production advances outside of battery technology. A critical issue is likely to be weight-shedding and related new materials for example. This is no doubt the key to GM’s expanded relationship with LG Group. GM had previously been collaborating with LG Chem on the battery packs for the Volt and the Ampera. However, the company has recently announced that the relationship between the two companies will be expanded to involve LG Group as a whole. This will allow the Korean company to offer its expertise in other areas, particularly related to 'vehicle structures and architectures'. See more detail here. And Tesla of course is already working with aluminum in order to get the weight of the Model S down.

Finally, the introduction of Level 3, 480-volt chargers is also significant to the potential growth of the EV market. This will be particularly true once they are installed where they are most needed, across the nation's Interstate highways - as is for example planned with regard to the Pacific Coast Green Highway. These Level 3, 480-volt rapid chargers can provide a 19 kwh charge to a Leaf for example in 30 minutes. Some other EVs can be charged more rapidly. Drving from LA to the Canadian border in a Tesla will be a breeze.

All of this suggests that in fact there is no slow crawl ahead when it comes to overall efficiencies for EV vehicles. Most importantly, such efficiencies in terms of the performance of the cars as a whole will not be limited to efficiencies in battery technology.

About the Author: Clean Energy Intel is a free investment advisory service produced by a retired hedge fund strategist who also manages his own money inside a Clean Energy investment fund.

Autogas Alliance: Published

2011-06-21T16:42:00.002+01:00

Autogas Alliance supply brand new vehciles and in practice this means the Fleet Market. So the Alliance has had its first reference in Fleet News:

Also see:

http://view.digipage.net/?id=fnejune2011 page 13

http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2011/6/10/alliance-could-spark-lpg-increase/39785/

This publication and our ability to supply new cars and vans all running on LPG is good news. Added to our ability to put bulk LPG tanks into Fleet premises, means that Fleet Managers can control their fuel costs, starting from a very low base!

Autogas Alliance: A New Frontier

2011-06-04T15:38:00.002+01:00

An alliance, due to be launched in July, along with the consent of some of the UK’s major vehicle manufacturers, could mean that fleets will find making the switch from petrol and diesel models to LPG not only cost effective but better for their total carbon footprint.

“This alliance was formed after the success of New LPG vehicles being supplied into the Taxi Market. As this is a real test of a vehicle’s endurance, with some taxi’s having exceeded 80,000 miles per annum, it was felt with this reliability there would be a considerable interest if launched into the Fleet Market. Fleet Operators will have to consider LPG as a cost effective and viable option to petrol and diesel vehicles. As a part of the alliance’s offer, there is also the ability to install gas tanks on customer sites which allows the Fleet Operator to reduce his fuel and servicing costs even further” stated Rob Breuilly Managing Director of the vehicle supply arm.

There are thought to be around 150,000 LPG vehicles on UK roads, whilst Europe boasts more than 7million, selling around 4,000 units per week, this is due to some European Governments still subsidising the costs of the conversion.

Breuilly’s agreement with the Manufacturers will allow fleets to order petrol vehicles that have the capability to be converted to LPG, and thanks to economies of scale, provide an extremely attractive package for any small to large Fleet Buyer , thereby increasing the savings even further Combined with substantially reduced running costs of LPG vehicles, makes the case indisputable; (current pump prices standing at 77.5p/litre, according to www.petrolprices.com, compared with 137.2p/litre for unleaded and 142.2p/litre for diesel). And, if fleets have their own LPG tank installed on site, the cost could drop to just 67.5p/l, according to John Burke of Autogas Network. As stated above, the alliance has already run a trial of the system with Vauxhall in the UK’s Taxi Market, and so far has realised a return of 9.1p/mile for converted LPG vehicles as against 12.6p/mile for diesel and 17.1p/mile for petrol.

With 1400 LPG filling stations currently in the UK, this is rising daily as the interest from the major Supermarket chains grows to install gas pumps in all their stations, it would seem that the UK have been slow to embrace this technology, following the Government withdrawal of subsidies, something that Burke puts down to “our nervous approach to anything new”.
“Here in the UK we are so far behind Europe when it comes to taking up LPG and I think it’s about time we re-appraised the advances made in LPG technology.
.
The alliance believes the launch has come at the right time as by 2020 there is a European requirement to ensure that 20% of vehicles on our roads are running on alternative fuels (including Hydrogen and electric): “Hydrogen and electric vehicles are still too far away to have an immediate effect – it could be 10 or even 20 years before we see a real impact from
these vehicles.

But LPG is here now!

All we hear about in the press is focused on diesel and CO2 emissions.

It is “this obsession with CO2” from both Government and industry that has clouded the environmental issue, claims John Burke. “Diesels may be pumping out lower CO2 levels today but they still produce toxic NOx, hydrocarbons and Benzines which all affect people’s health. We seem to be living in a hydrocarbon soup and yet have failed to realise that there are virtually no particulates produced from an LPG vehicle.” In fact, LPG vehicles are already meeting environmental standards for Euro VI on NOx, while PM levels are too low to measure.

The Alliance expects to sell 3-4000 vehicles a year within the first three years and has already placed substantial forward orders. Lead time is expected to be about eight weeks depending on the size of the order.

For further information as to vehicle availability contact John Burke on 07886 801609
www.dualfuelsavings.com or info@dualfuelsavings.co.uk
www.autogas-alliance.com or info@autogas-alliance.com

Act NOW to introduce LPG and CNG vehicles into LONDON

2011-04-22T21:05:00.001+01:00

Stop wasting time future gazing with Electric and Hydrogen vehicles. We need to take action NOW.

Taken from today's FT the following article simply highlights to need to act which we have been stressing for a number of years now;

Please respect FT.com's ts&cs and copyright policy which allow you to: share links; copy content for personal use; & redistribute limited extracts. Email ftsales.support@ft.com to buy additional rights or use this link to reference the article - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/696b70ac-6cd8-11e0-83fe-00144feab49a.html#ixzz1KHefs7AR

"Holidaymakers took to the roads on Good Friday for the Easter weekend getaway in greater numbers than usual, as environmental campaigners warned that the London mayor’s measures to tackle pollution in the capital were failing.

Trafficmaster said the roads on Friday morning were busier than usual for the annual Easter getaway, taking advantage of what weather forecasters were predicting would be a weekend of bright sunshine and temperatures in the mid-20s. Traffic delays on Friday morning were reported on coastal routes in east Anglia, southern England and western England."

"The combination of the Easter holiday period and the fine weather prompted a government warning on Thursday about “summer smog”. The department for environment, food and rural affairs said elevated levels of PM10, or particulates, and ozone were expected to reach high or moderates readings across England and Wales until at least Sunday."

"While such alerts are not uncommon, Defra acknowledged that it was its earliest alert for eight years. It advised the public to take sensible precautions, advising against short car journeys and taking outdoor exercise in the afternoon to reduce exposure to ozone."

"Defra said the UK was meeting air quality targets in most of the country, but that those for nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulates in some parts of the country were “more challenging”. The department of health said cases of hospital admissions caused by pollution would be publicised in quarterly updates."

"According to Clean Air for London, the legal standard for PM10 in the capital has been breached two months earlier than last year. Simon Birkett of the campaign group said London mayor Boris Johnson had ignored advice from consultants on action to tackle excessive PM10 levels at London hotspots and had failed to introduce a low emission zone for central London."

At Autogas Network we have been campaigning for a programme to convert London Transport buses from diesel to CNG as part of a rolling programme of planned engine renewal. At the same time we have been campaigning to supply LPG taxis into London to displace aging diesel taxis.

All diesel vehicles contribute toward the P10 problem. By focusing on CO2 only we have lost sight of the real pollution risks.

Spend £30,000 on Electric Car Batteries or Lease a LPG Car NOW?

2011-04-20T12:45:00.003+01:00

The great electric car debate is lumbering on with all the obvious benefits being discounted into the future. Every journalist and motoring expert is already on this 'band wagon' with 'facts,' 'opinions', and preferences.

Battery pack leasing options, technological improvements, fast charger systems, capacitor technology, flywheel power reuse, home power chargers etc, etc. Then there is the 'magical' appearance of the required infrastructure, and increased electricity consumption (from inefficient power generation Coal/Oil/Gas/Nuclear?) from our creaking national grids.

BUT no one can escape the fact that WE ARE NOT READY FOR THE ELECTRIC CAR -YET!

So what can the concerned motorist, facing ever higher fuel costs and knowing that the environmental damage from tradition fuels and especially diesel is doing to our cities? Why is so much attention being spent on the future when we already need solutions right now, this minute.

The most overlooked and least marketed solution is already staring us in the face.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG has an existing and growing infrastructure in place, 1,440 stations in the UK and 33,000 in Europe for the 7,000,000 vehicles in Europe already using LPG. So lets wake up Britain and look at this logical and obvious solution for now, whilst we let the experts 'fight it out' as to the best solution for the electric car for 2021 at least!

Some LPG Lease Vehicles Vauxhall Approved Insignias ready for Delivery

We have places to go right now and we need low running costs and much cleaner environmental emissions across the full range of noxious substances that petrol and especially diesel vehicles pump into our city's airspace.

'Dirty' Diesel but Clean LPG

Autogas Network and 4 substantial commercial partners are about to launch the answer. A range of manufacturer approved, LPG converted brand new vehicles for immediate lease for the public and fleet markets. And what's better than that - they will be less expensive than the plain petrol counterparts!

So cheap to run and cheap to buy - what a combination.

We are especially keen to talk to all fleet markets as we are able to offer a LPG re-fueling station with fleets above a certain size so that they can buy in at 'wholesale' LPG prices for their transport fuels. This includes vans as well as cars. Enquiries CLICK HERE

Why Can't CO2 be Easier to Understand - for Taxi Drivers

2011-03-23T22:19:00.005+00:00

“Carbon footprints, Electric Vehicles, Hydrogen Fuel Cells, CO2, NOX, Benzines, and Particulates” just what are the environmentalists/local authority air quality people/licensing authorities talking about. And how can I ever reduce my Taxi’s running costs?

Well it’s all a question of priorities. The ‘Greens’ want electric and hydrogen fuelled vehicles right now; trouble is they are just not practical at the present, and nor are likely to be within the next 5-10 years. It’s the infrastructure you see. It’s not there. …Infrastructure?

When there is a hydrogen filling station every few miles, that is not subsidised by millions in grant support, then we might have an infrastructure. And when battery power allows you to re-charge in 5 minutes tops, then we will have an infrastructure. But both those are a long way off, decades maybe.

Right now there are ‘alternative’ inexpensive fuels out there and there is already the infrastructure – filling stations. Not only that, our partners can install a re-fuelling station right now. And you could be filling up at around 65p per litre including VAT at 20%. This fuel is called LPG. Its big in Europe, 7 million vehicles use it already. But in the UK we only have 155,000. Not only that the EU (in one of their more intelligent moves) has made the suggestion that by 2020 that 20% of all vehicles run on a fuel other than petrol or diesel. The front runner here, again is LPG or Liquefied Petroleum Gas.

LPG Bi-Fuel Brand New Taxi

At Autogas Network Sales Ltd we and our partners the Taxi Shop can supply ready converted Petrol/LPG vehicles for extremely competitive prices. In fact sometimes less than diesel equivalents. We are changing the way the ‘public’ perceive LPG.

LPG is a by-product of Natural Gas exploration and the Petrol Refining Industry. In the UK we actually export LPG as we cannot uses all that we have available. Which is pretty daft with petrol and diesel hovering around £1.40 per litre irrespective of the Chancellors 1p discount (to the current 59 p of duty!).

So we have in the UK a ready supply of inexpensive LPG. We have the technology and availability to supply bi-fuel petrol/LPG Taxis. But what is missing is the understanding and the ‘mis-information’ bandied about by the electric and hydrogen lobby who are looking for massive Government handouts.

The truth is that compared to the diesel engine LPG is exceptionally ‘clean’ and at least 99% more ‘environmentally friendly’. But the ‘powers that be’ only compare by CO2 levels. They don’t do the full job. If you talk to the environmental officer in any local authority, they will talk about ‘Air Quality’. But it’s the diesel engine that’s the biggest culprit here. You all know about soot and particulates – I mean you can see them every time a diesel driver puts his/her foot on the accelerator pedal. That stuff is bad. Especially in built up areas with diesel buses, taxis and cars all queuing in a congestion charging ‘nightmare’. No wonder more kids have asthma than ever before.

Emissions by Fuel Types: Gas Fuels are Cleanest

But there real damning stuff is what you cannot see. The Benzines and NOx in both petrol and diesels fuels. It’s all down to the complexity of the molecules. Diesel is the most complex, LPG far far simpler. The more complex the molecule the more pollution. That’s why the Hydrogen lobby are so powerful, it’s the simplest molecule of all.

So to help your wallet AND the environment think LPG. On the face of it diesel and LPG have similar CO2 levels, but in reality LPG has none of the other pollutants. It’s the sensible choice for the next 10 years until we perfect the ‘fuel cell’. But that’s another story we can tell another time.”

California is Anti-Diesel

2011-01-29T11:23:00.001+00:00

Just stumbled accross this web-site dedicated to fighting air-bourne pollution in California. Makes very interesting reading.

The Air Resources Board is dedicated to achieving emission reductions from diesel sources. Below are website links to categories of diesel-related sources to help you navigate this large area of our website. Also, please consider joining one or more of ARB's diesel related e-lists.

		Diesel Health Effects In 1998, California identified diesel exhaust particulate matter (PM) as a toxic air contaminant based on its potential to cause cancer, premature death, and other health problems. Diesel engines also contribute to California's fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) air quality problems. Those most vulnerable are children whose lungs are still developing and the elderly who may have other serious health problems.
		Mobile Vehicles and Equipment Mobile sources include on-road vehicles (trucks, buses, etc.) off-road vehicles and equipment (locomotives, tractors, cargo handling equipment, construction equipment, etc.) and marine vessels (recreational watercraft, commercial harbor craft, and ocean-going vessels). For any diesel related inquiries, please call 1-866-6DIESEL (or 1-866-634-3735).
		Stationary Engines and Portable Equipment Stationary engines are used in emergency-standby generators, prime generators, and agricultural irrigation pumps. This area also contains information on portable equipment, such as portable generators and pumps, and transport refrigeration units (TRUs).
		Diesel Fuels In addition to diesel fuels, this area also includes information regarding alternative diesel fuels.
		Certifications/Verifications and Related LinksGo here for information regarding our Aftermarket Parts, On-road and Off-road Certification programs and our Verification of Diesel Emission Control Strategies (DECS).
		Related Programs, Plans, & Other Topics Additional links for related programs, such as Goods Movement, Railyards, the Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, Carl Moyer Program and Airborne Toxic Control Measures, Research Activities, Credits; Incentives, and Enforcement Activities, just to name a few.

EU Future of Transport Fuels Report

2011-01-27T13:57:00.002+00:00

Vice President Siim Kallas

Good News for Natural Gas and LPG now, with a potential of 10% of all EU vehicles running on LPG by 2020.

Plus a growing Electric then Hydrogen Infrastructure in the future. The EU study concludes that "Alternative fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels, methane or LPG will gradually become a much more significant part of the energy mix."[At the expense of Diesel and Petrol].

No single substitution candidate, however, is seen. Fuel demand and greenhouse gas challenges will most likely require the use of a great variety of primary energies. There is rather broad agreement that all sustainable fuels will be needed to resolve the expected supply-demand tensions.

Acceptance, however, will be decisive for a competitive acquisition of market shares by the different fuels and vehicle technologies. Any new fuels should demonstrate their availability, affordability and reliability. Compatibility with existing fuels and vehicle technologies would facilitate a smooth market transition and optimise the total system cost and customer acceptance.

Energy Mix

Political and regulatory support will be decisive in the first phase to support the development and market entry of alternative fuels able to respond to the decarbonisation objectives. Liquid hydrocarbon fuels are expected to remain predominant over the next decades. But the use of electricity, hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels, methane and LPG will steadily increase.

Methane/Natural Gas/Bio Gas

Methane gas vehicles can play an important role in urban and medium distance transport in the mid term (2020). A 5% market share for CNG/LNG vehicles could be possible by 2020, with some 15 million vehicles. A higher market share could be reached towards 2030 and beyond. In the city, all types of vehicles can be operated: passenger cars, light duty vehicles, taxis or buses for public transport and trucks, substantially reducing pollutant emissions.

Heavy duty trucks could in the medium range start to replace compressed methane by liquid methane, as the first new engines are currently appearing on the market. In 2050, these vehicles could still take an important share. In urban transport, passenger cars would shift from gas to electricity, while in the medium transport range gas would be more suitable.

The methane vehicle fleet development within the EU is very different from country to country: Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Sweden have a reasonably good coverage of their territories with public methane filling stations allowing the development of the private use of light duty vehicles powered by methane. Sweden is leading in the use of biomethane, which is now accounting for 65 % of all the methane gas used in some 28.000 vehicles (as of June 2010). In Italy new passenger cars sold as methane vehicles in 2009 reached 7 % of all new registrations, and Sweden is close to a 5 % share.

A market share of 20 % of natural gas in transport fuels would allow a 5 % reduction of the CO2 emissions from all European vehicles. Assuming that 20 % of the gas used would be made up of bio-methane, the CO2 reduction would increase to 7 %. Over time, the share of biomethane in the overall natural gas supply could increase gradually and ensure further decarbonisation of methane powered vehicles.

***Methane use in buses and trucks substitutes for diesel fuel, and therefore can alleviate the imbalance in the European fuel market between gasoline and diesel. Decreasing pressure on diesel demand would then improve the overall energy efficiency of fossil fuel production.***

LPG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was the first true alternative motor fuel. A mix of butane and propane, LPG is derived from oil refining (40% of the world total; 75% of LPG in Europe) and natural gas processing (60% worldwide; 25% in Europe). LPG can be burned in a slightly modified spark ignited internal combustion engine. Though retrofitted systems have traditionally dominated the automotive LPG market, both supply and demand for new, manufacturer-equipped LPG-powered vehicles is emerging in a series of EU markets.

When LPG motor fuel is used in a properly equipped vehicle, it has advantages over conventional motor fuels, particularly environmental benefits:

On a well-to-wheel basis LPG’s CO2 emissions are 14% and 10% lower than those of petrol and diesel respectively.
NOx emissions are lower than for gasoline vehicles and much lower than for diesel vehicles.
No soot particles are emitted.
The octane number is high, which should improve engine efficiency.

In the long term, however, these differences may diminish, with exhaust emission requirements for the different engine technologies converging.

A major advantage of using LPG as a transport fuel is better efficiency in the exploitation of mineral oil, and natural gas wells and thereby improving the energy and greenhouse gas emission balances of those. But this only holds if no other use would exist, which is not the case. The amount of LPG channelled to transport therefore has to be balanced also against its deployment in other sectors.

Infrastructure
The core infrastructure is already established, as LPG is used, in addition to the transport sector, also in domestic, industrial, and other sectors. More than 27,000 public filling stations for LPG were in service in the EU-27 as of end 2009. The cost of individual filling station installations ranges from about €20,000 for a basic unit with dispenser to €125,000 for a station with remote underground tanks and a dispenser incorporated in a petrol forecourt.

Potential
In 2006, LPG consumption for European OECD countries stood at 5.7 Mtoe, up 6% year-on-year. As for the other alternative fuels, spot developments are currently supported by fiscal incentives.

LPG supply is expected to increase as a result of increasing natural gas production worldwide. This could lead to an oversupply situation in the LPG market, as less than 10% of the available total is being consumed at present (21 million tons out of a total of 240 million tons available). This supply situation could allow an increase of the current fuel share of LPG in Europe, from about 3% to 10% by 2020.

Bio-LPG derived from various biomass sources is expected to emerge as a viable technology in the medium to long term as a by-product in the biofuel production process in bio-refineries. Bio-LPG would then serve the same purpose as now fossil based LPG, namely improve the efficiency and economics of the whole fuel chain.

The current HVO plants are designed to yield mainly paraffinic diesel fuel but they produce also some bio-LPG as side product. Low-CO2 LPG could therefore already be delivered for niche markets. LPG can also be blended with DME produced via synthesis gas.

No Power Sacrifice with LPG

2011-01-14T04:37:00.001+00:00

660 HP BMW M5 in LPG

G-POWER is known first and foremost for spectacular supercars, enormous power hikes and world speed records. What is less well-known, however, is the fact that environmental protection and resource conservation also enjoy a high priority in all G-POWER developments.

The power increases achieved by G-POWER are not paid for by an exorbitant rise in fuel consumption, but by maximization of the specific efficiency of the modified driveline. In its December 2008 issue, German magazine “Auto Bild sportscars” calculated an average fuel consumption of 18.3 l/100 km for the G-POWER M6 HURRICANE equipped with a 635 hp bi-supercharger system. In the January 2009 issue, the series production BMW M6 was found to have a fuel consumption of 18.1 l/100 km. This equates to an added fuel consumption of around 1% paired with a power increase of around 25%!

Supercharged engine

The whole package becomes even more environmentally friendly when the increased output is delivered courtesy of LPG instead of petrol. The conversion, however, is not that straightforward, even for series production high-revving engines. The even bigger challenge comes when the engine in question is also supercharged via two ASA radial compressors. By lucky coincidence, G-POWER is not only a supercharging specialist, but also one that happens to have particular expertise with BMW V10 power units. It is not without reason that G-POWER is the only company worldwide to offer an aftermarket supercharger system for the BMW V10 engine.

The outcome is the G-POWER M5 HURRICANE GS equipped with one fully sequential five-cylinder LPG system per cylinder bank. The benefits of LPG as a fuel are both economical and ecological in nature – not only is LPG around 50% less expensive per litre than petrol, it also reduces CO2 emissions by around 15 percent.

That said, there can be no sacrificing the hallmark G-POWER performance increase. 660 hp and 650 Nm of torque are the figures achieved by the SK II bi-supercharger system thanks to low-pressure forced induction with a relative charge pressure of 0.6 bar. Each cylinder bank of the 5.0l V10 power plant is equipped with a belt-driven ASA T1-313 compressor. Compared with conventional mechanical superchargers, which consume a large proportion of the additional power generated to drive themselves, ASA compressors have an efficiency rating of up to 80 percent. They thus form the ideal foundation for efficient forced induction, as well as increased output with an eye on resource conservation.

Downstream of the two ASA compressors, the pre-compressed charge air is brought down to performance enhancing temperatures by the twin-scroll, water-cooled intercooler finished in G-POWER’s characteristic orange. This sophisticated cast aluminium component replaces the series production airbox above the engine, where its short airways facilitate the same spontaneous responsiveness as the series production engine, albeit combined with a considerable benefit in torque. The superiority of the G-POWER compressor system is particularly evident when it comes to low-end torque, which is one weakness in the high-revving concept favoured by M GmbH. At long last, the 5.0l V10 offers impressive power delivery, of the kind that many customers might reasonably have expected from the series production version. Specifically developed mapping of the engine electronics and SMG transmission control ensure perfect interaction of all components.

Clean Installation

08.09.2010, 02:48 hours, local time. A desolate strip of autobahn close to G-POWER headquarters in Autenzell. The final test on the G-POWER development protocol is, as always, the calculation of top speed. With a sonorous growl from the G-POWER SPEED-Flow exhaust, the G-POWER M5 HURRICANE GS lets loose, just a few seconds later reaching its top speed of 333 km/h – a world record for an LPG car. With this world speed record, G-POWER delivers an impressive demonstration that high performance and environmental compatibility don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

Of course, it’s not just in top speed that the G-POWER HURRICANE GS achieves top marks. From a standing start, it sprints to 100 km/h in only 4.6 seconds. The 2-tonne saloon passes the 200 km/h mark in a total of just 11.4 seconds.

The immense forces that lie behind these figures are transmitted to the road via 9.0 x 20-inch and 10.5 x 20-inch forged SILVERSTONE CLUBSPORT alloy rims clad in 255/35 ZR 20 and 285/30 ZR 20 MICHELIN tyres. Thanks to their race-proven production technology, the G-POWER wheels are no heavier than the series production wheels, despite their larger dimensions. The resulting reduction in unsprung masses ensures better acceleration and greater agility through corners.

Further contributors to the high-speed capability of the HURRICANE GS are the G-POWER high-performance braking system and the G-POWER RS coil-over sports suspension, with 9-way adjustability for compression and rebound plus infinitely variable height adjustment.

The G-POWER SK II bi-supercharger system incl. conversion to LPG is also available for the current BMW M5 and M6.

PSV, HGV and CNG are ideal city partners

2011-01-05T16:10:00.001+00:00

Compressed Natural Gas is ideally suited to heavier road vehicles in the UK. Its clean, far far cleaner than diesel and the conversion of existing diesel engines to CNG or LNG is a practical option. So 'Boris' (Lord Mayor of London) lets bring in many more CNG (converted) buses rather than just experimental Hydrogen Fuel Cells. Even so CNG can power a fuel cell for the future.

The benefit for CNG is that the distribution networks are present in all our cities right now. We don't need Hydrogen fuel stations or electric re-charging points money needs to be spent effectively and efficiently. CNG is cheaper than diesel!

In addition gases (called Bio gas) from the Anaerobic Digestion (AD technology) of food, animal and human waste are mostly methane, the main component of natural gas. So we could see these buses filling up at the local sewage works. How about that for waste to energy and the community spirit!

Buses or Public Service Vehicles (PSV)

CNG Bus

Urban buses are one of the most popular uses for natural gas, usually utilizing CNG but occasionally using liquefied natural gas (LNG). A number of trials are currently under way testing HCNG, a blend of hydrogen and CNG.

Because the amount of mileage an urban bus travels doesn't vary much from day-to-day the fuel requirements can be catered for quite easily. Storage cylinders for CNG, LNG or HCNG are often installed on the roof of a bus, allowing the weight to be distributed evenly over the chassis.

Lorries or Heavy Good Vehicles (HGV)

LNG fueled waste haulage vehicles in San Francisco

CNG or LNG Lorry dependant on duty Cycle.
Or even Dual Fuel for London Low Emission Zone

The best fuel choice for a truck depends on the duty cycle of the vehicle. Trucks that do lower mileages or that return to a base frequently will often be suited for CNG, while trucks that do higher mileages might be more suited for LNG. In the past, the weight of CNG cylinders has often limited its application on heavy vehicles. This is becoming less relevant as natural gas engines are becoming lighter compared with their diesel counterparts and CNG cylinders are available manufactured with lightweight composite materials.

In some applications a fleet operator may choose a dual-fuel natural gas engine over a dedicated natural gas engine, giving them the option of switching to diesel if natural gas supplies become restricted.

Trains

Biogas powered trains are now operating commercially in Sweden

Trams and Trains on Natural Gas

Trains are a relatively recent application for natural gas. While experimental or small scale trials have happened in the past, larger scale commercial applications have only begun in recent years. Peru, Sweden and India have the most developed programs, with the Swedish operation making use of bio-methane, natural gas made from waste or renewable sources.

Boats

Boats can make use of CNG or LNG and, while still small in number, are becoming a popular choice for ferries or vessels which operate fixed routes.

Aircraft

Light aircraft in Brazil have been using CNG on an experimental basis

CNG Aircraft Development

The use of natural gas to fuel aircraft has only been conducted to date on an experimental basis, but the range of experiments conducted shows the flexibility of the fuel. Fixed wing aircraft from a small single engined prop plane to the massive Antonov AN-225 and even helicopters have been fuelled with natural gas.

Electric Vehicle Predictions 2011

2010-12-30T20:14:00.003+00:00

Pike Research have put together a well reasoned piece of 'future gazing' that hits the right mix of practical expectation combined with 'real world' snags that will ultimately make of break the Electric Vehicle Markets.

Ballard Fuel Cell

As Autogas Network, we welcome these predictions as they highlight some of the significant practical and distribution issues with the 'pure' electric vehicle. Pike also introduce the most likely 'winner' as the fuel cell. Whilst not perceived as an 'electric vehicle' by the media, it is a mix of known fuels, passing through a 'magic [black?] box' to directly produce electricity [and heat]. The fuel cell will NOT burn the fuel, nor will there be any form of combustion [the root cause of most traffic related air pollution].

GM Fuel Cell Unit

The electricity from the fuel cell will power the vehicle's wheels. As it can use Hydrogen, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas - From natural gas and oil fields) as 'fuel' [to directly generate electricity with no moving parts] its much more efficient than grid produced electricity and far more efficient than the outmoded combustion engine. Hydrogen distribution is problematic, but CNG and LPG are already readily available. Whilst these do give some minor air pollution they are a significant improvement over the too popular diesel engine.

The Pike Research Findings

The electric car will get its revenge in 2011 as many of the world's largest automotive OEMs begin selling thousands of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) to consumers. Sales of charging infrastructure and PEVs, including both plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles, got off to a slower-than-anticipated start in 2010, with only a few vehicles being delivered at the end of December. Consequently, 2011 will be a year to make up for lost time. Rental fleets and car share programs will play an important role in providing many consumers with their first hands-on experience with a PEV.

British Police in Electric Smart: Not exactly Ideal?

Electric vehicle rollouts will receive considerable attention and scrutiny as the industry watches to see whether they meet up with consumer expectations. The PEVs' market performance will influence automakers' plans to introduce more models and to ramp up production. Any glitches in meeting production deadlines for vehicles or batteries and/or any negative consumer reaction will be magnified by the high level of interest.

Battery electric vehicles [may] will serve as a secondary vehicle for most households, while plug-in hybrids, with their long driving range, can serve as the primary vehicle. The notion of range anxiety will be largely dispelled through a combination of driver education and the emergence of strategically placed charging spots. While charging stations were installed by the handful in pockets around the globe in 2010, 2011 will see the installation of hundreds of charging stations in cities such as London, Barcelona, San Francisco and Nashville.

While many of these charging stations are likely to be underutilized initially, by 2012 they will be in greater demand as owners begin to travel further with their vehicles and become more familiar with where and how often to charge. Another electric vehicle category that will continue to develop is the fuel cell vehicle, which will remain on its slow drive toward a planned commercial launch in 2015 through larger fleet and consumer evaluations.

Two-wheel electric vehicles will see strong growth globally, and the market in North America is expected to grow by 27% in 2011. Pike Research has identified 10 key trends that will steer the course of PEVs for the remainder of the decade.

Main Predictions from Pike, with Comments by Autogas Network

1. The majority of people who drive a plug-in vehicle won't own it.
The point being that ownership comes with risk in new technology. So most will drive a leased or pooled electric vehicle.

2. Automakers will get pushback from EV owners regarding the length of time it takes to fully charge a vehicle.

Charging times due to the current high costs of batteries, are not practical for all but the most infrequent users. Although some talk of a system of battery swaps, this in itself gives rise to more problems.

3. Stop-start vehicles will arrive in the United States, albeit in small numbers.

While Pike is looking at the US, the same will be true in Europe as 'high profile' leaders position themselves as the 'innovators'.

4. Many EV charging stations will spend the majority of their time idle.

Certainly early on charging stations will be poorly utilised as only relatively a few cars will use them. Partly as they would be charged up overnight at 'home'.

5. Fuel cell vehicles will be sold to fleets and consumers in small but growing numbers

As a leased vehicle, an Electric Hybrid and latterly fuel cell vehicle can hit the market earlier due to the buying power of fleets against the limited numbers of 'early technology adopters'.

6. Someone somewhere will have a bad EV experience and the media will over-react.

What more can anybody say. Its what the media does best. Any over-reaction will cause a 'loss of confidence' which in turn will weaken demand.

7. The advanced battery category will heat up with M&A activity

At the present time any radical improvement in battery technology will be seized upon as the next 'investment opportunity'. However without these advances current electric car practicalities are limited. Thus the Hybrid and fuel cell varieties have the advantage here.

8. "Range anxiety" will prove to be more fiction than fact.

Pike have noted that most 'average' car users travel only limited distances. Short journeys tend to cause more pollution, so the PEV

9. The best-selling EVs won't have four wheels.

Pike have noted that electric motor bikes may become more practical particularly in our congested cities.

10. The landscape for charging equipment will undergo a seismic shift as the category swiftly moves toward becoming a commodity market

At present charging equipment is very specialised. Until it becomes freely available and 'commodatised' prices will remain high and be a negative factor.

European LPG Association

2010-12-29T19:54:00.000+00:00

Automotive LPG - Autogas a competitive alternative fuel for improved air quality so says the European LPGA.

A RECENT STUDY DEMONSTRATES THAT REPLACING DIESEL OR PETROL WITH LPG CAN BE DONE AT A COMPETITIVE COST WITH A BENEFICIAL IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY WHILST FURTHER REDUCING THE GREENHOUSE-EFFECT

Forthcoming EURO 4 and EURO 5 emission limits, as well as the introduction of cleaner conventional fuels, will significantly improve the level of regulated pollutants from vehicles in the next few years, but their introduction will still take some time.

Thus, in specific locations such as urban centres where air quality issues can be an immediate concern, Autogas is a solution, that contributes to improving local emissions. Autogas offers similar benefits to other gaseous fuel options such as CNG and is already widely available on the market today through an extensive retail network.

LPG, furthermore, improves supply security and meets the EU 20/20 challenge, meaning 20% of the European motor fuel market will be alternative fuels in 2020. LPG originates either from crude oil refining or through extraction from natural gas processing (the latter representing 60% of current LPG supply).

Recent test results of the European Emission Test Program (EETP) have confirmed the air quality benefits of Autogas vehicles. The results give a clear indication of the positive environmental impact of Autogas as an available, alternative fuel with a promising future.

More details Click Here

Australian Study Shows LPG is Best

2010-12-29T19:29:00.001+00:00

Viewed objectively, the national and community benefits flowing from long-term local supply, widespread retail availability, lower community health costs, lower greenhouse emissions and quieter commercial vehicles, makes LPG the logical fuel of choice for vehicles operating in Australia.

The ALPGA believes that Autogas is a low carbon, high hydrogen fuel delivering immediate environmental and economic benefits to Australian businesses and consumers. As an abundant domestically available fuel and by providing greater energy choice, it increases the likelihood of Australia moving towards cleaner future transport fuels and supports energy security.

More information on this report and other findings are on the Autogas-Network website -CLICK Here to read

CNG/LPG Fuel Cells for Cars

2010-12-23T19:16:00.001+00:00

Open Access Article Originally Published: September 23, 2009 And Available from EV World

The hydrogen initiative is stalled. The hydrogen fuel cell cars work fine but no good solutions have been found to the problems of where to get the hydrogen, how to deliver it and how to store it. 95% of our hydrogen is made from natural gas, which is abundant on earth and already distributed at 1/3rd of the price of gasoline.

Three recent breakthroughs have made natural gas a very interesting fuel:

Ceramic fuel cells that can make electricity from natural gas at 60% efficiency.
ANG: Adsorption stores natural gas at low (500 psi) pressure in compact tanks.
A glut of cheap natural gas caused by new shale drilling/extraction techniques.

The fuel cell breakthrough is particularly important because it means a car can generate its own electricity more efficiently than a massive power plant! Big plants typically average 30% efficiency, so a 60% NG fuel cell hybrid is twice as efficient as an electric vehicle charged from the grid.

Fuel Cell in the Engine Bay

That means half as much fuel is consumed. Twice as efficient as an electric car is saying a lot because electric cars are already three times more efficient than conventional cars. This is because internal combustion engines are less than 30% efficient verses 90% for electric motors.

Natural gas fuel cell cars are thus about six times more efficient than today’s cars. Using 1/6th as much fuel means pollution is also 1/6th . But NG is inherently very clean. and has 30% lower carbon content and virtually no sulfur, mercury, volatiles, and Nox so pollution is way less than 1/6th.

Since NG fuel cells have a warm up time, the hybrid batteries must have enough capacity for all-electric operation until warm up is complete. After warm up, the fuel cell keeps the batteries charged and the batteries provide power for peak loads and acceleration and recapture energy on braking.

A Prius uses 16.8 kW for continuous 70 mph driving on a level road. The fuel cell must be able to supply this much power for steady driving. Natural gas is already distributed by pipeline to homes all over the US and UK, so home refueling is possible. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is already used to run five million vehicles worldwide. Pump prices for CNG are about one third of the price of gasoline in spite of the expensive ($350k), 3600 psi pumps and fittings currently used for delivery.

The pipeline cost of natural gas is only 1/4th of the cost of crude oil with the same energy content. If much simpler, 500 psi Adsorbed Natural Gas refueling is adopted, prices could be reduced even further.
Cost per mile for a NG fuel cell hybrid would currently be only 1/18th of present cars but could be reduced even further with low pressure ANG refueling! ANG fuel tanks contain activated carbon “sponges” that adsorb 160 times their own volume of natural gas. They can be made from Corn cobs , which have a network of nanoscale passageways that remain after carbonization. One gram of this material has as much adsorbing surface area as a football field.

When natural gas is adsorbed on a carbon surface it ceases to act like a gas. Dense storage at low pressure makes it possible to hide the much smaller tank inside the car's frame. Even if we kept the existing CNG high pressure storage, the tripled efficiency would allow fuel cylinders only 1/3rd as large as present CNG tanks.
So an NG fuel cell hybrid is a lot like a Chevy Volt with a fuel cell replacing the range extender (engine/generator) and a much smaller battery. Its battery only needs to be large enough to run the car during warm-up of the fuel cell, currently about 15 miles. The Chevy Volt's 40-mile battery is rumored to cost $5000, so the NG car's 15-mile battery would cost $3125 less. Incidentally, at these battery prices a 400-mile range pure electric car would need $50,000 worth of batteries!

Clearly, small batteries with range extenders are the way to go until we have a significant battery breakthrough. Pure electrics have other problems too: A 110v, 20A household plug can only supply 2.2 kW which means that, unless you add 220v service, 10 hours of home charging will only take you 10 x 2.2 x 4 mi/kW = 88 miles. Natural gas today is primarily a non-renewable, fossil fuel.

But people have already begun selling renewable gas into the pipeline. Landfills, manure piles and sewage plants that used to release significant amounts of methane into the atmosphere are now selling it as green gas. Biomass and garbage can also be gasified to add to the supply.

The energy balance of grass bio methane production is 50% better than annual crops now used. Though the US power grid uses significant hydro power and other renewables, CO2 emissions are still almost twice as much per kilowatt-hour as a 60% efficient NG fuel cell. In 2007 the US power grid emitted 605 grams/kWh.
A NG fuel cell emits only 327 grams. At 4mi/kWh that translates to about 151 grams per mile for a grid charged car verses 82 for the NG fuel cell car.

Someday the grid could be cleaned up so that electric cars charged from it are cleaner than NG fuel cell hybrids. EIA data makes it easy to track our progress towards this goal: In 1996 we emitted 627 grams of CO2 per kWh and by 2007 this was reduced to 605 grams.

That’s a 2-gram per year decrease. If we continue at that rate, it will take 139 years to equal what we can do now with a NG fuel cell. Recent years show even less progress. There was no improvement between 2006 and 2007. Plugging into the grid is, unfortunately, a bit like plugging into a lump of coal.

Infrastructure expansion also favors natural gas. Gas pipelines cost half as much to build as ugly overhead electric transmission lines of the same power capacity. Gas also has one fourth the transmission loss of electricity and much cheaper energy storage.

Depleted gas fields and salt caverns are already storing 4.1 Tcf of gas in the US. At 60% efficiency this could produce 1,970 gigawatt-hours of electricity. A very cheap battery! Fuel cell developers are in a race to commercialize suitable fuel cells. The first products using NG fuel cells are home CHP electricity generators that use their waste heat to make hot water. The fuel cells in these units produce only 2 kW but they can start up from an idle state in 5 or 6 minutes.

Scaling up to 15 kW and adapting to the tough environment of a car could take years. Another company is developing a fuel cell range extender that is fueled by methanol. Methanol has only half the energy density of gasoline but, because of the high efficiency, fuel tanks would still be smaller than current gasoline tanks. “Price at the pump” is the one thing that seems to get voters excited. Reducing fuel cost/mile by a factor of 18 with a fuel that is 97% from North America while using corncobs should generate some excitement. The hydrogen initiative should be immediately redirected to focus instead on a fuel that is plentifully available, transportable and storable.

Finally if the Governments of the US, UK Europe and the rest of the world wish to allow some kind of demarcation, as its a transport fuel (and thus subject to some form of road pricing tax) then LPG is already available as both a transport fuel and heating fuel. It is also subject to the tax as well. LPG whilst a more complex molecule could still be developed as the fuel cell of choice by the motor industry.

Possible Case for the LPG Treatment

2010-12-23T18:02:00.000+00:00

The European version, called Jazz Hybrid, will be available in early 2011 and was unveiled at the 2010 Paris Motor Show.

The Honda Fit/Jazz for the European and Japanese markets will feature revised headlamps, new front grille, a leather seating option and a new Lime Green exterior color choice.

US Version called Fit in UK/Europe will be known as Jazz

Fuel economy estimated in accordance with European standard is around 65 miles per imperial gallon (4.3 L/100 km; 54 mpg-US) and CO2 emissions of 104g/km. It has the lowest carbon emission of automatic car in the B-segment.

In an interview, Kohei Hitomi, the project leader, admitted that to bring CO2 further down will affect some attributes that buyers of the car most value: bigger electric motor and battery will sacrifice space utility; to improve aerodynamics may have to make side mirrors smaller. He said there are benefits for customers to keep all the versatility. The drivetrain is the same drive system as Honda Insight. The advantages of the system are low cost, low weight and can be combined with manual transmission or continuous variable transmission.

The car is better suited than its diesel competitors in areas where most superminis inhibit most - city centres. It is more economical in urban conditions. Thanks to the instant torque of the electric motor, it has a much better engine response.

Honda has not decided on a U.S. launch for Fit hybrid, according to Koichi Kondo, Executive Vice President of Honda. “As for the future, it's open to question. We will carefully be watching the market situation.” Hitomi, as reported by Automotive News, sees that the current Fit offered in North American market has very good fuel mileage as it is and questions if buyers are willing to pay the extra for marginal mileage gains.

At Autogas Network we are always looking for new projects for conversion. At well at over 60 mpg and running on LPG at around 60p per litre this looks very interesting. Will report in 2011 about pilot conversion.

Cleaning Up Taxi Emissions

2010-12-15T15:54:00.001+00:00

£1 million incentive fund to stimulate market for electric black cabs
* Eco-driving mandatory for new black cabbies by 2012

Lets hope that the headlong rush to Electric Cabs is tempered with some realism regarding the practicalities of LPG cabs. LPG Taxis are far superior to diesel taxis across a wide range of pollutant emission.LPG has 99% less soot than a diesel engine for a start.

The Mayor of London has today (Tuesday 14 December) announced the oldest, more polluting black cabs in the capital will lose their licence to operate, under tough new standards to improve air quality in the capital.

Road transport is responsible for around 80 per cent of airborne pollution (PM10) in central London where air quality is worst, with black cabs contributing 20 per cent of this. ‘Clearing the Air’, the Mayor’s final Air Quality Strategy published today, will demand that from 1 January 2012 no black cab over 15 years old will be licensed by the Taxi and Private Hire Office. Around 1,200 black cabs are likely to be more than 15 years old in 2012. The Mayor will introduce a requirement for all new taxis entering the fleet to meet the strictest vehicles standard from 1 April 2012*. In addition, currently, all taxis are subject to a single annual inspection by Transport for London (TfL).

From 2013, at the latest, instead of a once yearly overhaul, all taxis will be required to take two full MOT tests each year, but this will be done more simply and cost effectively at a local garage rather than at only three available inspection centres. This will ensure that the vehicles are operating as cleanly and efficiently as possible all the year round but with reduced bureaucracy. In addition, from January 2012 all aspiring cabbies will also be required to take a mandatory eco-driving course. Helping cabbies to drive more efficiently will not only help them to save money but also reduce emissions of pollutants and carbon dioxide.

The Mayor and TfL have also announced a £1 million fund to encourage taxi owners to upgrade to low emission vehicles such as electric black cabs. Taxi owners who are upgrading their vehicles will be able to avail of the fund to upgrade to the cleanest vehicles available. Further details of the fund will be announced in 2011.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: ‘London’s magnificent cabbies are famous the world over for their top notch service, but I also want the capital’s taxi fleet to match up to the highest environmental standards that a great city like ours deserves.

‘From 2012 when the world heads to London, we will remove the oldest, dirtiest cabs from our streets. But we are also offering a juicy carrot, with the establishment of a fund to help speed up the introduction of electric black cabs. This forms part of a robust package of long-term measures to progressively clean up London’s air.’

The Mayor’s Air Quality Strategy sets out a package of measures to clean up the capital. Just last week, the Mayor announced the creation of the UK’s only zero-emission bus route with the use of eight hydrogen buses that emit only water vapour. The bus route will go through some of London’s most polluted areas in central London. TfL has already begun the UK’s first trial applying dust suppressants at two central London locations with high levels of particulate matter pollution (PM10). The dust suppressant is a solution made up of Calcium Magnesium Acetate that literally sticks the particulate matter to the road and prevents it re-circulating in the air.

Other measures in the strategy include:

* Retrofitting older buses so that they meet the Euro IV standard for NOx;
* Introducing vans and minibuses to the LEZ from January 2012;
* Introducing a NOx standard into the LEZ from 2015;
* Encouraging the use of electric vehicles through schemes such as Source London;
* Updating and fully implementing guidance for reducing dust at construction and demolition sites;
* Using the planning system to make new developments ‘air quality neutral’;
* Energy efficiency programmes to reduce emissions from heating of homes and workplaces.

Implementation of the policies and proposals in the strategy is expected to reduce PM10 emissions in central London by around 13 per cent by 2011 and by about a third by 2015 (compared to 2008). Together with the targeted local measures in priority areas, modelling suggests that this will allow London to be compliant with legal limits by 2011. The strategy will also see NOx emissions fall by 35 per cent by 2015 (compared to 2008 levels).

The Mayor is already implementing a range of measures in London to improve air quality such as introducing a hybrid bus fleet, record levels of investment in cycling and programmes to cut emissions from homes and workplaces. The New Bus for London, due to enter service in 2012, will incorporate the latest hybrid technology and will be both 40 per cent more fuel efficient than conventional diesel buses and 15 per cent more fuel efficient than current London hybrid buses.

Electric Cars and Fuel Cells are the Future, BUT......

2010-12-10T16:10:00.000+00:00

Electric Vehicle

There is no argument about the direction of the future of motor vehicles. All electric, Hybrid, Hydrogen Fuel cells etc. They are all being developed. But.

What are we going to do with the 806,000,000 petrol and diesel vehicles already out there? I mean firstly not everybody can go and buy an alternative vehicle right now or even in the medium term. In addition manufacturers and the raw materials markets could not cope either. So what's the compromise?

In practice the transition to alternative powered vehicles might take between 30-50 years. This is based on how a 'new' concept can become accepted as the 'conventional wisdom'. This occurs in all sorts of industries, from transport to construction. Reinforced concrete took 40 years to gain a place along side steel and brick. The diesel car took over 30 years in the UK to become 'accepted'. In addition technological advances along the way are also required.

Therefore an intermediate step towards 'cleaner' technologies and fuels is needed. Now that diesel vehicles have become almost 'standard' we have to look at the disadvantages of diesel as a fuel. Irrespective of the relatively low CO2 emission, diesel has many other unpleasant problems, such as soots or 'black carbon'.

These products of incomplete combustion are rather bad, in fact some are considered carcinogenic. They also explain why your engine oil gets so dirty so quickly. Diesel is a 'heavy fuel' with a very complex structure. During combustion many differing compounds are created. This is why diesels are less suited in urban environments such as city centres. Its also why the diesel taxi is now falling out of favour.

In Hong Kong for example there are no diesel taxis at all. Being a very densely populated area, diesel exhaust emissions are becoming problematic. Not just human health either. The Sulphur compounds can accelerate the erosion of buildings when combined with rain.

Therefore Autogas Network has decided that this transition fuel system should be built around LPG - Liquefied Petroleum Gas. LPG or Autogas is a mixture of Butane and Propane gases that have been lightly compressed to be stored in a compact fuel tank as a liquid. LPG has the added advantage that it is extremely clean burning with so little deposits from combustion that your engine oil will remain clean much longer (up to 70,000 miles is not unknown).

Autogas Network LPG Converted 2010 Vauxhall

Not only is it much cleaner than diesel and so ideal for high mileage taxis in urban locations, it emits less than 99.9% less soot than a diesel cab. Furthermore the infrastructure is already in place. In Europe there are over 8 million LPG dual fuel cars with over 32,000 filling stations. In the UK alone there are 1,440 filling stations. So its not like the future of cars; where we need additional filling points and infrastructure.

LPG or Autogas is the ideal intermediate fuel, the ideal compromise for cleaner cheaper motoring for all those existing petrol vehicles out there or still to be built. Let's not forget that the current motor manufacturers are still making brand new cars and have spent a huge amount of money in setting up production lines. These cannot just be switched off and electric cars produced - it will take years.

Major Tie Up to Be Announced

2010-09-02T12:52:00.001+01:00

Volume Conversions in 2011

Within the next few weeks Autogas Network Ltd hope to make a formal announcement into an exclusive agreement to supply UK LPG converted vehicles.

Directors of Autogas Network Ltd hope this will form a core component of their expected franchise option.

LPG Fuel Prices

2010-07-26T14:48:00.000+01:00

From October Autogas Network Ltd will be retailing LPG/Autogas at 62 pence per litre to our customers. [Unfortunately this price has to be made on the basis that petrol prices remain at current levels, so it could be higher or lower.]

With petrol at 118p per litre and fuel consumption pretty much similar, this works out at nearly half the price of petrol. We are also offering £500 down and then a fixed number of monthly payments made from your fuel savings to make this a mostly self funding conversion. Compared to price of £1200-£2000 out there we feel we are doing our bit to bring down your motoring costs.

Listen out for us on Northamptonshire Local Radio!

Autogas Network Starts in Corby and Shirley

2010-07-26T14:30:00.000+01:00

Autogas Network will launch its new service of offering LPG or Autogas as it is known on the continent, car conversions, novel and affordable payment plans and the sale of LPG or Autogas to refuel your converted vehicle - at around HALF the price of PETROL