Calgary, Canada-based Alternative Fuel Systems (AFS) disclosed today the information with regard to its supplying of engine components for the past year to Mahindra & Mahindra which is the largest manufacturer of SUVs in India.
AFS are makers of natural gas engine controllers which can be used in compressed natural gas vehicles and includes Mahindra’s Maxx Maxi Truck. The proclamation comes after the company’s supply deal was signed with Mumbai’s Tata Motors around 2 years ago.
Jim Perry the AFS CEO did not reveal the measure of the Mahindra deal but informed the Cleantech Group that the 2 deals are sure to aid the company step-up its share of the little-but-developing market for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in India.
The roadblock to the adoption of CNG operated vehicle all over the world is insufficient distribution systems. India possesses the infrastructure for CNG refueling with 180 such natural gas fueling stations in Delhi alone.
Source: Cleantech
Cars on the CNG platform is being tried out before launching them commercially by the car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Limited. It is likely that the CNG platform car will be sold commercially in the next 2-3 years. At present only 11 cities in India had CNG facilitated cars. This was the reason for Maruti for not going in for such switch over previously.
Actually compressed natural gas (CNG) is a more environs-friendly choice to other fossil fuels like petrol or diesel. At present, no car runs on CNG version in the Indian market, even though Maruti 800 and Wagon R are obtainable on the LPG platform.
Even though external CNG kits can be fitted in new cars but with the launch of the Maruti CNG models the price would be much cheaper because of the economies of scale.
Volkswagen and Archer Daniels Midland, one of the world’s top agriculture processors and a principal in biofuels, have arranged to work toward fostering the growth and usage of biodiesel in the auto industry. This is a noteworthy step ahead for biofuels for the size of the companies involved. ADM’s key interest in this developing market, and VW’s respectable and developing use of advanced diesel engines in its product line.
In Europe, Volkswagen has combined with the Royal Dutch/Shell Group to exhibit the feasibility of cars motorized by synthetic fuel obtained from natural gas. For the past 5 month period, 25 VW Golf hatchbacks power-driven by 100 horsepower TDI diesel engines were fuelled by this spotless-fiery gas-to-liquids fuel. The object was to prove this fuel’s discharge savings features. This is also claimed to be comparable to that of compressed natural gas but at lesser cost.
Source: Yahoo!
Iowa gas prices increased by 10% in May. The average increase was about $2.16 per gallon for 10 % ethanol combined states a state survey undertaken on May 15. Natural gas prices augmented in the most recent monthly survey by 51 cents per MMbtu (decatherm) to $3.08 per MMbtu on May 14 this year.
The reason for the increase of natural gas prices according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, is supposed to be the increase in crude oil prices. This may be due to signals of a potential economic revival which is in the offing.
Tommi Makila, energy policy analyst for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources stated that “The expectation of future growth in consumption has been driving prices up, but relatively low overall demand and large inventories should moderate the price increases we see this summer”.
Heavy Duty OEMs in Australia have started using natural gas trucks and these trucks have been put up in the centre stage at the Brisbane Truck Show this week. This was in response to the increasing interest from fleet operators on both sides of the country.
Mack, Kenworth, Isuzu and Iveco all boasted compressed or liquefied natural gas (CNG or LNG) in their lineup. Some of them had more than one model on the show. Mack’s quality exhibit, a CNG fuelled concrete agitator sporting a 300 hp Cummins ISL-G engine, wrapped the show in several ways thus rendering a background to a Mack merchandise fashion show. This truck won the award for the event and was titled as the “Outstanding Truck Manufacturer Display”.
Isuzu, which had launched 4 new CNG trucks in Australia only last month exhibited 2 models – an FSR 700/850 ( 8 litre) and an NPR 300 (4.6 litre).
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC started production of the natural gas-powered Civic GX, at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana. The Civic GX has been awarded with top environmental awards and the awards include the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy’s “America’s Greenest Car” award for 5 successive years. Honda is known for its extended history of environmental leadership.
America’s first hybrid the Honda Insight was also built by Honda. The only natural gas vehicle, the Civic GX is produced by a main automaker in the U.S. The Civic GX has the lightest inner ignition vehicle and it is certified by the EPA as 90% cleaner than other gasoline driven cars.
The Civic GX was previously created at Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio plant. The car has a mean series of above 220 miles, and has exceptional fuel economy at 24 MPG within the city limits and 36 MPG on the highways.
CNG or compressed natural gas is a nationally accessible, inexpensive clean burning, substitute fuel source for vehicles.
Instead of burning gasoline or diesel fuel, a consumer would like to fuel his/her vehicle with natural gas. To provide sufficient range, the gas is packed in and stored in the vehicle in hassled tanks which has the capacity to hold up to 3,600 psig. Natural Gas is a perfect fuel resource for several reasons and it includes safety.
Since Natural Gas is lighter than air that it will not pool like gasoline or descend to the ground like propane. Natural Gas in reality will ascend and dissolve in the atmosphere. Read More »
CleanFuel Conversions has formed an allotment agreement with Altech-Eco to add Ford Focus cars furnished to run on gasoline and compressed natural gas, or CNG, to Texas consumers. The plans for the future include offering natural gas retrofits for a broadening assortment of bigger sedans and trucks for fleets and consumers.
The CNG Ford Focus can run on CNG or gasoline with a driving compass of 218 to 318 miles while its mean 35 miles per gallon on the highway and 24 mpg in the city is comparatively good. The CNG Ford Focus will be made accessible in Texas by CleanFuel Conversions and is likely to be made available immediately by participating Ford dealerships. Altech-Eco extends an eight-year, 80,000-mile warranty, and Ford Motor Credit has sanctioned financing for the cost of CNG transition.
Ronnie Oldham who is the president and founder of CleanFuel Conversions remarked that “We are excited about offering a bifuel vehicle like Altech-Eco’s Ford Focus retrofit.”
By admin | April 21, 2009
AT&T just denoted that it will expend over half a billion dollars for the subsequent 10 years in an effort to lessen fuel use and apparently, induce the economy. CEO Randall Stephenson affirmed that companies like AT&T have a responsibility to invest which will oblige the nation’s fiscal growth and efficiency.
To meet this responsibility AT&T is going to expand its alternative-fuel vehicle group from 100 to 8,000 vehicles by 2020. These fomites will be U.S.-made compressed natural gas vehicles, and would cost around $350 million worth of the total $565 million.
AT&T and other U.S. corps have an unparalleled chance to partner with the novel administration as it brings to lead the country out of this economical downtrend. This investiture is a first step on their part to help improve other industries. They are at the same time cheering broader use and production of effective vehicles and domestic fuel options.
Source: AT&T
Posted in AT&T | Tagged AT&T |
By admin | April 19, 2009
T. Boone Pickens presented the subsequent statement of back up for H.R. 1835, the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NAT GAS) Act. This Act was presented today by Congressmen Dan Boren, John Larson, and John Sullivan.
T. Boone Pickens says that “I applaud Congressmen Boren, Larson, and Sullivan for introducing the NAT GAS Act today. In doing so, they’re showing that a bi-partisan approach to energy policy is not only possible, but do-able.”
The NAT GAS Act will offer the instant inducements and long-term constancy for companies to severely move from imported diesel and gasoline to domestic natural gas. Last month, AT&T declared that it would replace 8,000 vehicles—or one fifth of its fleet to make it run on natural gas. This legislation will inspire many others including major corporations and municipalities to follow suit.