Death Trap - an illegal CNG to LPG adapter

Recent incidents in Sweden have prompted the IANGV to issue a reminder to motorists that compressed natural gas (CNG) is not suitable for cars fitted with LPG (liquefied petroleum gas or propane) systems. As LPG systems are not designed to cope with the pressure of CNG systems, components and cylinders have been known to burst with drastic consequences. Despite strict standards being enforced worldwide for CNG dispensing systems, motorists have circumvented the system using dangerous, illegally manufactured adaptors. Motivated to save a few dollars on fuel, many motorists have paid a higher price through injury and even death.

The recent incidents, believed to be the first of their type in Sweden, one involving a truck and the other a car, resulted in two persons being injured at each, with one person losing a leg and another a finger. The incidents occurred despite clear labelling on the dispensers in Sweden stating that such practices are illegal and dangerous. New signage has since been developed to make the message clearer.

Previous incidents in other parts of the world have resulted in major injuries, and on a number of occasions, death of the motorist involved. As well as being unsuitable for LPG vehicle systems, the use of LPG cooking bottles to store CNG has also met with catastrophic results.

Danger sign - Sweden. (now displayed in 8 different languages)

Danger sign - Switzerland

Danger sign - Germany

Program highlights have been announced for the 16th AFVi Alternative Fuels & Vehicles National Conference and Expo (AF&V 2010), to be held in Las Vegas from May 9-12. AF&V 2010 attendee focus is on public and private fleet managers, with a “Fleet Day’ added to the program for the first time. Keynote speakers include T. Boone Pickens, creator of The Pickens Plan,  and John Davis, Executive Producer and creator of MotorWeek, US television’s longest running automotive series.

Keynote speakers will be joined by 150 experts presenting topics in thirty-two concurrent sessions. The program features many of the leading decision-makers in alternative fuels and technologies, representing truck manufacturers, fuel suppliers, government agencies and parts manufacturers. The national Conference is a fuel and technology neutral meeting place for policy and/or purchasing decision-makers.

A Technology Showcase, a Vehicle Technology Parade and a Ride-n-Drive will provide opportunity to explore natural gas and other vehicle technology options.

More information on the conference is available by going to http://www.afv2010.com.

Madrid Movilidad tow trucks - yet another application for CNG

Madrid Movilidad SA is contributing further to environmental sustainability for the City of Madrid by commencing a program to replace 71 towing vehicles in its fleet with low-emission vehicles, including 16 that will operate on compressed natural gas (CNG). The replacement program to phase in the new trucks will be completed by the end of this year, part of a seven million Euro program that runs into 2014. The Euro V trucks will meet EEV (Environmentally enhanced vehicle) requirements.

Dual-control

Schwarze, a sweeper manufacturer in Huntsville, Alabama has 5 unused surplus Sterling CNG Acterra dual-control chassis’ available for purchase. As Schwarze is a manufacturer, these chassis come new with warranty as per the following details:

Basic vehicle warranty two years/unlimited distance
Engine warranty  two years or 100,000 kms
Transmission and rear axle warranties  two years and unlimited distance.

2009 Sterling Acterra 2FZXCL0098AAC6346 *8.3 Engine

2008 Sterling Acterra 2FZXCL0008AAC6347 *8.3 Engine

2009 Sterling Acterra 2FZXCL0079AAH7913 *8.9 Engine

2009 Sterling Acterra 2FZXCL0099AAH7914 *8.9 Engine

2009 Sterling Acterra 2FZXCL0009AAH7915 *8.9 Engine

Call Raymond Massey for more details: 1-800-879-7934 ext# 1140 or direct 1-256-851-1140 or email: Rmassey@Schwarze.com

Specs as follows

8.9 CNG Spec: Engine shall be an electronic inline 6-cylinder CNG and be turbo-charged.  Horsepower rating shall be Cummins 8.9L ISLG 260 HP @ 2200 RPM. Torque rating shall be 660 LB/FT @ 1300 RPM. The engine shall supply power for propulsion and sweeping functions. CNG chassis fuel tanks (2 each) to be a total of 51.6 gallon diesel equivalent at 3600 PSI mounted in rear compartment. Transmission shall be an electronic 5-speed automatic Allison 3500 RDS.

8.3 CNG Spec: Engine shall be an electronic inline 6-cylinder CNG and be turbo-charged. The engine shall supply power for propulsion and sweeping functions. Horsepower rating shall be 250 HP @ 2200 RPM. Torque rating shall be 660 LB/FT @ 1300 RPM. CNG chassis fuel tanks (2 each) to be a total of 51.6 gallon diesel equivalent at 3600 PSI mounted in rear compartment. Transmission shall be an electronic 5-speed automatic Allison 3500 RDS.

www.Schwarze.com

One of the new CNG buses joins the MARTA fleet

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is rolling out new CNG buses, one at a time, as part of its policy to replace obsolete stock with new environmentally friendly buses. According to a report by pbaonline that policy has set a limit of twelve years or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first. 18 of the new buses are being funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) funds. The other 83 CNG buses are being funded by an 80% grant from the United States Congress and U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration, with 20% of the funding coming from the Georgia Department of Transportation and MARTA. Total cost of replacement is approximately USD 42 million.

The AvtoVAZ site in Tolyatti

The Russian city of Togliatta (Tolyatti), near the Volga River in the Samara Oblast, is a struggling automotive manufacturing hub. Now the city’s economy is about to be boosted by a new hybrid car project that is the brainchild of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov – said to be the first project of its kind in the country. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has reportedly backed a proposal to build a pilot factory with a capacity of 10,000 vehicles, that will produce bi-fuel (natural gas/gasoline) cars, according to RIA Novosti.

Prokhorov said he had selected Togliatti in Russia’s Volga area as the site for the plant’s construction because the city has freely available production capacities and qualified personnel. It is the home to the country’s largest automaker AvtoVAZ, which has been apparently been struggling to stay afloat in recent years over its inability to offer competitive car models to consumers.

Unit cost will be around $10,000 with an annual output of 10,000 vehicles, reducing to about $7,500 if production increases to 100,000 cars.

The project is expected to generate new jobs by focusing on local production rather than imports and build a regional knowledge-based innovative economy.

Infrastructure, component quality and viable volume may present significant hurdles for the project, say analysts.

Russian Natural Gas Vehicle Association (NGVRUS) President Eugene Pronin said there are approximately 100,000 natural gas vehicles currently operating in his country, refuelling from 45 private and 199 public filling stations.

Lincoln Titan bulk gas transport module

Lincoln Composites, US-based subsidiary of Norway’s Hexagon Composites ASA, has received a purchase order for two TITAN™ modules for the storage and transportation of compressed natural gas (CNG) in the Dominican Republic. In placing this order, Linea Clave will become the first to operate a TITAN™ bulk gas hauling system in the Western Hemisphere. The modules will be used to deliver natural gas to the Consorcio Energetico Punta Cana-Macao (CEPM) power generation station in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.

Each module is a 40 foot ISO modular storage system (10,000 standard cubic meters) containing four lightweight, composite TITAN™ pressure vessels. Lincoln says the modules are able to deliver 35%-85% more gas than steel tube trailer solutions and the lightweight advantage of the composite technology means that the gross vehicle weight of the Linea Clave trucks and trailers will weigh 12 000 to 18 000 kg less than a typical steel tube trailer solution. That means fewer trips from the compression plant in Santo Domingo to the power generation site in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic.

According to Mr. Dale Tiller, President of Lincoln Composites, “We are excited that Linea Clave has chosen the TITAN™ product for their project. They realized early on that the TITAN™ would make their operation more cost efficient and provide great service to the citizens of the Dominican Republic. We believe that this is just the beginning of a great relationship between our two companies and we look forward to being a part of Linea Clave’s growing gas distribution business.”

The TITAN™ module received approval from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) late 2009 and can be transported via rail, truck or ship.

Creative Bus CNG installation all clear at Altoona

A CNG fueled cutaway bus recently completed the demanding Altoona Bus Test without any unscheduled maintenance or repairs to the CNG fuel system. Built on the Ford E-450 chassis, the cutaway bus is 25′ in length and has a passenger capacity of twenty one. The proprietary compressed natural gas fuel system was designed and installed in California by Creative Bus Sales, a company that specializes in CNG bus conversions.

The 200,000 mile (322,000 km) test began on June 10, 2009 and was completed on August 31, 2009. Overall the bus experienced very few mechanical problems, none of which were at all related to the CNG fuel system.

Testing took place at the prestigious Pennsylvania Transportation institute at Penn State. Penn State’s Vehicle Systems & Safety Program is responsible for the operation of the Federal Transit Administration’s new model bus testing program. Creative Bus Sales’ CNG fuel system was designed to meet NFPA 52 standards and complies with the requirements set forth in California Title 13. It is designed for installation on the Ford E-450 chassis, and uses components from Luxfer Cylinders, Swagelok, and BAF Technologies.

Awards Presented at NGV Rome 2010 Closing Ceremony

The IANGV invites nominations for the 2010 NGV Champion awards. Presented every year since 2002 the awards recognise and honour individuals who, by their actions and endeavours, have promoted and inspired the development of a significant NGV program and activity.

The criteria for the awards include:

• The achievements of the nominee have significantly advanced the use of natural gas as a vehicular fuel.
• The achievements of the nominee can be clearly seen in terms of natural gas vehicles in use.
• The achievements of the nominee have far reaching benefits in the widest interests of the NGV industry in the country concerned.
• The achievements of the nominee are consistent with good character and political or business ethics.

Members of IANGV are now invited to make nominations for the NGV Champions award. The nominee does not have to be a member of IANGV.

Previously awarded on a regional basis, the awards will now be considered on a global basis. A judging panel will determine the number of awards to be issued and select the winners, who will be invited to attend the closing ceremony of the biennial IANGV conference, on 10 June 2010 in Rome, to receive their awards.

Nominations can be made (in confidence) by e-mail to Brett Jarman, Executive Director of IANGV, including the nominee and his/her details and a statement of up to 1 page (maximum 300 words) on the specific achievements and contributions of the nominee. Supporting materials should not be included but should be available on request if required by the judges.

Remember: nominations close 19 March 2010.

Doblo Natural Power - one of Fiat's stable of low-emission methane-powered performers

Lowest average value CO2 emissions for Fiat Brand and Group in 2009

New Doblo Natural Power builds Fiat’s NGV stable

Among Europe’s best-selling automotive brands and for the third year running, Fiat Automobiles has logged the lowest average value for CO2 emissions of cars sold in 2009: 127.8 g/km (it was 133.7 g/km in 2008). The accomplishment was recognised by JATO, leading automotive advisory and research service provider. The bottom line shows FIAT ahead of Toyota (130.1 g/km), Peugeot (133.6 g/km), Renault (137.5 g/km), Citroen (137.9 g/km), Ford (140.0 g/km), Opel/Vauxhall (148.9 g/km), Volkswagen (150.4 g/km), AUDI (160.9 g/km) and Mercedes (176.4 g/km).

Fiat says it’s achievement is the result of a long-term strategy based on a two-pronged approach: implementing technological solutions aimed at containing consumption and emissions and raising the awareness of motorists to spur a more responsible, eco-compatible use of their car.

Fiat proudly acknowledges the role of methane in emissions reduction since its adoption by the company as a vehicle fuel over ten years ago. Today Fiat has sold 350,000 natural gas vehicles and has a wide range of models to meet all mobility needs, including the  new Doblò Natural Power, equipped with a 1.4 16v T-JET (petrol and methane) engine, which will have its world premiere at the 2010 Geneva motor show.

In addition, Fiat ranks first among groups (131.0 g/km), ahead of Toyota, PSA, Renault and Hyundai. The company was recognised for its contribution to emissions reduction by JATO after the first six months of 2009, and its consistent performance throughout the year is clear demonstration of its commitment to eco-friendly outcomes.