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[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
US Senators Introduce Bill to Expand Incentives for Natural Gas Vehicles
July 12, 2009
US Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) last week introduced new legislation, co-sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) that extends and increases tax credits for natural gas vehicle purchasing, refueling and manufacturing.
Under the NAT GAS (New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions) bill (S. 1408), the purchase tax credit cap for a light-duty natural gas vehicle would be increased to $12,500, up from the current $5,000. For the three other covered vehicle weight classes, the purchase tax credit cap would double; the maximum credit would be $80,000 (up from $40,000).
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House Subcommittee Advances Bill to Restart Natural Gas Vehicle R&D Program at DOE; $150M in Appropriations
July 03, 2009
The US House Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment recently approved H.R. 1622, which will restart a natural gas vehicle (NGV) R&D program at the Department of Energy (DOE). DOE and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory had earlier led the Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicles (NGNGV) program to develop advanced, commercially viable, medium- and heavy-duty NGVs.
H.R. 1622 directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) conduct a five-year program of natural gas vehicle research, development, and demonstration; and (2) coordinate with the natural gas vehicle industry and with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding streamlined certification of natural gas conversion systems to federal certification requirements and in-use emission standards.
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BAF Technologies Begins Converting 600 AT&T Vehicles To CNG in 2009
June 30, 2009
Dallas-based BAF Technologies has begun converting 600 AT&T Ford E-Series vans to dedicated CNG technology in 2009. This is part of AT&T’s plan to invest up to $565 million to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids. (Earlier post.)
The converted vehicles will utilize the BAF CalComp System, a proprietary CNG fuel system certified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB). CNG vehicles are expected to emit approximately 25% less greenhouse gas emissions than those traditionally powered by gasoline.
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Government-Industry Consortium Drilling Expedition Confirms Gas Hydrates at High Saturations in GOM
June 14, 2009
| Gas hydrate accumulations at one of the drill sites (Walker Ridge). Source: JIP. Click to enlarge. |
The US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), US Geological Service (USGS), and US Minerals Management Service (MMS), in collaboration with an industry research consortium led by Chevron, on 6 May completed a landmark gas hydrates drilling expedition that demonstrated the occurrence of gas hydrates at high saturations in reservoir-quality sands in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM).
The Gulf of Mexico is thus the first offshore area in the United States with enough information to identify gas hydrate energy resource targets with potential for gas production.
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COFs Among the Best Adsorbents for Storage of Hydrogen, Natural Gas and CO2
June 07, 2009
| High-pressure CH4 isotherms for COFs measured at 298 K. Credit: ACS. Click to enlarge. |
COFs (covalent organic frameworks)—thermally stable and highly functional crystalline organic networks—are among the most porous and the best adsorbents for hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide, according to a new study by Professor Omar Yaghi and postdoc Hiroyasu Furukawa at the Center for Reticular Chemistry at UCLA. A paper on their findings was published online 4 June in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Yaghi and his colleagues have been at the forefront of inventing new classes of crystalline porous materials: metal organic frameworks (MOFs), and then COFs, reported in the journal Science in 2007. (Earlier post.)
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USGS CARA Concludes 13% of World’s Undiscovered Oil, 30% of Undiscovered Gas in the Arctic
May 29, 2009
| Map of the assessment units (AUs) of the CARA is color-coded for mean estimated undiscovered oil. Only areas north of the Arctic Circle are included in the estimates. Black lines indicate AU boundaries. Source: USGS CARA. Click to enlarge. |
The US Geological Survey (USGS) has completed a geologically-based assessment of the oil and gas resource potential of the Arctic, the Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (CARA). (Earlier post.) The researchers in the effort concluded that about 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas may be found there, mostly offshore under less than 500 meters of water. A paper on the work was published in the 29 May issue of the journal Science.
Undiscovered natural gas is three times more abundant than oil in the Arctic and is largely concentrated in Russia, the researchers concluded. Oil resources, although important to the interests of Arctic countries, are probably not sufficient to substantially shift the current geographic pattern of world oil production, they said.
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Honda Begins Production of Civic GX Natural Gas Vehicles at Indiana Plant
May 15, 2009
Honda Manufacturing of Indiana, LLC (HMIN) began production of the natural gas-powered 2009 Civic GX at its plant in Greensburg, Indiana. The Civic GX was formerly produced at Honda’s East Liberty, Ohio plant and has ten years of proven performance as a natural gas powered vehicle. The Civic GX is the only natural gas vehicle built by a major automaker in the US.
First introduced in 1998, the Civic GX is the cleanest internal combustion vehicle certified by the EPA—90% cleaner than the average gasoline-powered car on the road today. As a result, the GX is certified by the EPA as an Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV). It is the only natural gas powered passenger car available for sale in all 50 states, and is eligible for a $4,000 federal tax credit as a qualified alternative fuel vehicle.
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MBtech Shows CNG Sports Car Demonstrator
May 10, 2009
| The CNG SLK. Click to enlarge. |
MBtech, a development and consulting service provider, unveiled a natural-gas powered sports car study based on the Mercedes-Benz SLK at the “Natural gas innovation show” (Innovationsschau Erdgas) organized by TÜV Rheinland on 29 April at the Nürburgring.
The engineers from MBtech’s powertrain solutions segment delivered an increase in performance with the four cylinder compressor engine in the series SLK model. The CNG demonstrator from MBtech produces more than 146 kW (196 hp) of power and a maximum torque of 270 N·m (199 lb-ft), which accelerates the SLK from a 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds. It has a top speed of 244 km/h (152 mph).
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Genifuel Licenses High-yield Algae-to-Natural Gas Process from PNNL
May 06, 2009
Battelle is granting an exclusive license to Genifuel Corporation for a process developed at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to convert algae into renewable synthetic natural gas (SNG) for use in pipelines and power generation. Battelle operates PNNL for the US Department of Energy.
The method, called catalytic hydrothermal gasification, creates natural gas out of algae more quickly, more efficiently and at higher yields than other biofuel processes, according to PNNL. Genifuel expects the process also requires less capital investment. The license agreement moves this technology for renewable energy production a step closer to commercial reality.
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AT&T to Deploy More Than 15,000 Alternative-Fuel Vehicles in Fleet Over Next 10 Years
March 11, 2009
AT&T plans to invest up to $565 million as part of a long-term strategy to deploy more than 15,000 alternative-fuel vehicles over the next 10 years. AT&T expects to spend an estimated $350 million to purchase about 8,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles and approximately $215 million to begin replacing its passenger cars with alternative-fuel models, beginning with hybrids.
AT&’s investment represents the largest US corporate commitment to CNG vehicles to date. The new deployments will bring AT&T’s alternative-fuel fleet to more than 15,000 vehicles by 2019.
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Eden Energy Sells Off HyRadix and Other Assets; Hythane Remains a Core Focus
January 22, 2009
Australia-based Eden Energy has sold all the shares in its two US subsidiary companies: Eden Cryogenics LLC, which has two operating businesses (Eden Cryogenics and Cryogenic Technical Services which manufacture cryogenic equipment and supply cryogenic design services) and Eden Hydrogen Inc which operates the business known as HyRadix which manufactures hydrogen reformers.
Eden acquired US-based HyRadix, a company specializing in on-site autothermal reforming systems for the production of hydrogen from methane or LPG, in 2007. (Earlier post.)
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Waste Management of Seattle Unveils New Compressed Natural Gas Collection Fleet
January 16, 2009
Waste Management of Seattle introduced the first of 106 new CNG waste collection trucks for its fleet as it broke ground on its new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station at its South Seattle operations headquarters.
The trucks use Autocar chassis and McNeilus (an Oshkosh Corporation) bodies. McNeilus expects to deliver the remaining CNG vehicles to Seattle in late March 2009. McNeilus is also providing 40 CNG refuse trucks to Cleanscapes, the other contractor for refuse collection in Seattle under recently awarded contracts (see below).
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Volvo Powertrain to Incorporate Clean Air Power Natural Gas Dual-Fuel Technology into Volvo Truck Engines
January 05, 2009
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| The Dual-Fuel diesel-gas cycle. Click to enlarge. |
Volvo Powertrain has signed a Letter of Intent with Clean Air Power Ltd. to incorporate UK-based Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel natural gas technology (earlier post) into Volvo Truck engines. Clean Air Power’s Dual-Fuel application enables diesel engines to operate primarily on up to 85-90% natural gas with diesel pilot ignition.
The letter of intent covers the development and commercialization of products which will include Clean Air Power’s technology and the intention is that they will be marketed and supported by Volvo Trucks.
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VW Premieres New Golf Plus, Golf BiFuel (LPG) and Passat TSI EcoFuel (CNG) at Bologna Motor Show
December 04, 2008
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| The 7-speed DSG. Click to enlarge. |
Volkswagen is staging the world premieres of the New Golf Plus and low-emissions Golf BiFuel with autogas (LPG) and gasoline drive at the Bologna (Italy) Motor Show (3-14 December). In an Italian premier, VW is showing the Passat TSI EcoFuel (earlier post). VW also introduced the Scirocco Studie R and Passat CC Individual.
Golf Plus. The new Golf Plus will be offered with five gasoline engines (59 kW / 79 hp to 118 kW / 158 hp) and four new turbo-diesel engines (66 kW / 89 hp to 103 kW / 138 hp). All engines are four-cylinder, all engines are charged starting at 89 hp, all engines fulfill the Euro-5 emissions standard. And with the exception of the base variants, any of the gasoline and diesel engines may be paired with a 6-speed or 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DSG). (Earlier post.) This signifies the retirement of the classic automatic with torque-converter lockup clutch in the Golf Plus and its replacement by DSG technology.
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NaturalDrive CNG Retrofit for 2008 Chevrolet Impala Receives EPA Certification
November 25, 2008
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has certified NaturalDrive Partners, LLC’s dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) retrofit of 2008 Chevrolet Impala sedans powered by 3.5-liter and 3.9-liter V6 engines in models LS, LT, LTZ, as well as law enforcement packages 9C1 and 9C3.
The retrofitted CNG Impala reduces NOx and CO emissions more than 50% compared to gasoline the gasoline versions, and offers about a 15% reduction in CO2 compared to gasoline. With the 3.5L engine, fuel economy is 19 mpgge city and 30 mpgge highway. The retrofit on the LTZ model also leverages GM’s Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) for superior fuel economy.
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Toyota Shows Concept CNG Camry Hybrid at LA Auto Show
November 19, 2008
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| The CNG Camry Hybrid. Click to enlarge. |
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA showed a compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept vehicle at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. (Earlier post.)
The CNG Camry Hybrid concept was designed by the TMS Advanced Product Strategy group and built by Metal Crafters of Fountain Valley, Calif. To convert the stock Camry Hybrid to a CNG vehicle, the gasoline fuel system was replaced with a CNG fuel system including two Lincoln composite Type 4 CNG tanks installed in the spare tire well area.
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Toyota To Display CNG-Powered Camry Hybrid Concept At 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show
September 24, 2008
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc., will display a compressed natural gas (CNG) Camry Hybrid concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Honda is currently the only automaker with an OEM natural gas passenger vehicle—the Civic GX—on the US retail market.
In 1999 Toyota marketed a CNG-powered four-cylinder Camry to fleet customers in California. However, in an era of cheap gasoline, customers were not attracted to a vehicle that required special refueling techniques and a limited refueling infrastructure, according to Toyota, which discontinued the program a year later.
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US Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum (NGVTF) Revitalizing its Efforts
September 22, 2008
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| Relative sequence of priority RDD&D Ideas for NGV development from the CEC roadmap. Click to enlarge. |
The US Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum (NGVTF) is revitalizing its efforts to develop and deploy commercially competitive natural gas engines, vehicles, and infrastructure, according to the Department of Energy.
In June 2008, NGVTF leaders met in Diamond Bar, California, to formulate strategies and establish an NGVTF Steering Committee. The first NGVTF all–stakeholder meeting under this new leadership will take place 19-20 November at SEMPRA Energy’s Energy Resource Center in Downey, California.
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Daimler to Showcase Alternative Drive Systems at the 62nd IAA Commercial Vehicles Show; Three Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Premieres
September 19, 2008
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| The Mercedes-Benz Econic BlueTec hybrid makes its debut at the Hanover show. Click to enlarge. |
Daimler AG is presenting 11 vehicles with alternative drive systems—including natural gas, hybrid-electric and fuel cell technologies—at this year’s IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hanover (25 September - 2 October). (Earlier post.)
Mercedes-Benz will present three hybrid world premieres at the motor show, including the Axor BlueTec Hybrid truck, its first hybrid prototype for use in long-distance transport. For local transport applications, Mercedes-Benz has equipped the Econic with two hybrid variants: the Econic BlueTec Hybrid with diesel engine and the Econic NGT Hybrid, a concept with a natural-gas-powered engine.
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Atlantic Hydrogen Licenses Hydrogen Enriched Natural Gas Plasma Technology to Rosetti Marino
September 17, 2008
Canada-based Atlantic Hydrogen (AHI) has licensed its technology for the on-site production of hydrogen enriched natural gas (HENG) for the vehicle refueling and small power generation markets to Rosetti Marino, a large engineering and construction contractor of offshore platforms and process modules located in northern Italy.
AHI’s CarbonSaver is an in-line pulsed plasma discharge reactor that separates hydrogen from methane molecules (CH4) while rendering the carbon as a solid (which appears to be a high-quality nano-structured material). Put another way, it is a plasma reformer that can produce hydrogen from methane without the generation of greenhouse gases during the process.
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Fiat to Show New Natural Gas and Electric Light Commercial Vehicles at Hanover
September 15, 2008
Two new Fiat natural gas light commercial vehicles will make their debut at the Hanover International Motor Show (25 September to 2 October): the Ducato and Fiorino Natural Power models. Fiat held a 47% share of new natural gas commercial vehicles in Europe in 2007 (66.8% in Italy); in the 1B segment, with Doblò Natural Power in particular, Fiat has a 45% market share in Europe.
In addition, Fiat will introduce a lithium-ion battery-electric version of the new Fiorino, produced by Micro-Vett in cooperation with Centro Ricerche Fiat (Fiat Research Centre).
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Flowserve and Linde Group Form JV for Natural Gas Refueling Systems Using Ionic Liquid Compressor
August 29, 2008
Flowserve Corp., a global provider of flow control products and services for the global infrastructure markets, has formed a joint venture with The Linde Group to commercialize and deploy ionic liquid compressor iKompressor natural gas and biogas refueling systems in Europe.
Called Flowserve Compression Systems GmbH, the joint venture plans to deliver at least 70 iKompressor refueling systems by 2009 to Germany, Austria, and neighboring European Union (EU) countries. The iKompressor systems are designed to reduce energy costs by up to 20% at low-inlet pressures, substantially reduce maintenance costs, and deliver high system reliability.
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Daimler to Introduce New Diesel and Natural Gas Hybrids at International Commercial Vehicles Show
August 20, 2008
Among the more than 80 vehicles Daimler AG is bringing to the 2008 IAA International Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany (25 September to 2 October 2008) are seven hybrid-drive trucks, vans and buses, as well as new natural gas variants.
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Study: Unconventional Natural Gas Resources Boost US Reserves to 118 Years Worth at Current Production Levels
August 11, 2008
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| NCI’s estimate of proved and recoverable resources is significantly larger than other estimates. Results from the NCI study are represented in the right-most bar. Click to enlarge. |
A study released by the American Clean Skies Foundation (ACSF) and conducted by Navigant Consulting, Inc. (NCI) concludes that the United States has 2,247 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas proved reserves and unproved technically recoverable resources, including major contributions from unconventional resources from three sources: tight sands, coalbed methane and especially from shale. Reserves at that level would supply natural gas for 118 years at current production levels, according to the report.
After nine years of no net growth in US natural gas production through 2006, production in the Lower 48 states made a large upward shift. Production grew 3% between first-quarter 2006 and first-quarter 2007, followed by an exceptionally large 9% increase between first-quarter 2007 and first-quarter 2008, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).
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Clean Energy Joins Investment Group Funding New Natural Gas Vehicle in US
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| An earlier prototype of the VPG natural-gas taxi, at the New York Auto Show in 2007. |
Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the leading provider of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for transportation in North America, has joined an investment group providing funding to help launch a new, natural gas vehicle made in the US for taxi and paratransit use. Clean Energy committed a $10-million investment in an overall $160-million equity financing for OEM Vehicle Production Group LLC, led by Perseus LLC, a merchant bank and private equity fund management company.
Separately, Clean Energy’s co-founder, T. Boone Pickens, has committed a $10-million investment to the funding package. Pickens recently launched the “Pickens Plan”, which calls for developing windpower to displace the 22% of electricity currently produced by natural gas, thereby freeing that natural gas up for use as a transportation fuel.
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USGS Estimates the Arctic Holds About 22% of Global Undiscovered, Technically Recoverable Oil, Gas and NGLs
July 24, 2008
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| Assessment units (AUs) in the Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (CARA) color-coded by assessed probability of the presence of at least one undiscovered oil and/or gas field with recoverable resources greater than 50 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE). Probabilities for AUs are based on the entire area of the AU, including any parts south of the Arctic Circle. Click to enlarge. |
The area north of the Arctic Circle has an estimated 90 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, 1,670 trillion cubic feet of technically recoverable natural gas, and 44 billion barrels of technically recoverable natural gas liquids (NGLs) in 25 geologically defined areas thought to have potential for petroleum, according to an assessment by the US Geological Survey (USGS). The assessment from the USGS Circum-Arctic Resource Appraisal (earlier post) is the first publicly available petroleum resource estimate of the entire area north of the Arctic Circle.
These resources account for about 22% of the undiscovered, technically recoverable resources in the world. The Arctic accounts for about 13% of the undiscovered oil, 30% of the undiscovered natural gas, and 20% of the undiscovered natural gas liquids in the world. About 84% of the estimated resources are expected to occur offshore.
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Two Proposals in US Congress to Increase Use of Natural Gas as Transportation Fuel
July 20, 2008
Two members of the US Congress, Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL-5) and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) separately announced legislative initiatives this past week to increase the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Currently, natural gas costs about half of the price of gasoline and produces approximately one-third less emissions.
Rep. Emanuel plans to introduce legislation that will compel automakers to make 10% of their fleet vehicles run on natural gas by the year 2018. Emanuel’s proposal also includes incentives and tax credits that will result in the addition of natural gas pumps at 20,000 fueling stations across the country.
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GE and STW Resources Collaborate to Recover Up to 70% of Hydraulic Fracturing Wastewater
July 17, 2008
GE Water & Process Technologies and STW Resources, Inc., (STW), a new company formed to use GE technology in water reclamation, formed a collaborative that will use a new, cost-effective process and patented GE thermal evaporation technologies to help oil and gas customers recover up to 70% of their hydraulic fracturing wastewater. Hydraulic fracturing is common technique used to increase the production rate of oil and gas wells, and creates billions of gallons of wastewater annually.
A conventional hydraulic fracture system combines freshwater with proppant (sand) and a polymer system. The polymer portion provides viscosity or thixotropic characteristics to carry the proppant into the reservoir. The fluid is pumped into the oil or gas bearing zone at very high pressure and cracks or fractures the structure, enabling the proppant to penetrate far back into the zone.
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Westport Innovations in Alt-Fuel Vehicle JV with China’s Largest Heavy-Duty Engine Manufacturer
July 16, 2008
Westport Innovations Inc.; Weichai Power Co. Ltd, China’s largest heavy-duty engine manufacturer; and Hong Kong Peterson (CNG) Equipment Limited have formed a joint venture—Weichai Westport Inc. (WWI)—to research, develop, design, manufacture, market, distribute and sell advanced, alternative fuel engines (plus relevant parts and kits) for use in automobiles, heavy-duty trucks, power generation and shipping applications.
Westport supplies a range of systems such as HPDI (earlier post) and H2DI (earlier post) enabling engines to operate on cleaner-burning gaseous fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), hydrogen-natural gas blends (HCNG), hydrogen and biofuels such as landfill gas. Westport’s joint venture with Cummins Inc.—Cummins Westport Inc.—manufactures and sells low-emissions alternative fuel engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses.
