Energtek’s CNG Lite system combines adsorbed natural gas storage with the company’s proprietary low-pressure technology. The system is targeted at 2- and 3-wheel applications. Tanks store natural gas at a working pressure of 60 bars (6 MPa) in volumes of 5-10 liters; a set of tanks is designed to provide 100 km (62 miles) driving range.

Currently there are some 300 million motorized 2- and 3-wheelers on the road worldwide. These are the primary method of transportation for drivers in many Asian countries. In addition, the 2- and 3-wheel market is the world’s fastest growing automotive segment, according to Energtek.

The Filipino Department of Energy made the request to Energtek for conversions following the DOE’s announcing its intention to allow tricycles to use natural gas (NG) resources apportioned from the Malampaya Gas Reserve in Batangas. The NG resources are now being allocated to the official Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT).

The Malampaya Offshore Natural Gas Reserve is currently the Philippines’ largest indigenous energy source. The government presently seeks to utilize the reserve to supply the motor fuel energy needs of its large transportation sector.

The Malampaya gas field, discovered in 1992, lies 80 kilometers off the island of Palawan in the South China Sea. It holds an estimated 2.3 to 4.4 Tcf of gas reserves and 85 million barrels of condensate, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Production of the Malampaya gas field began in 2001.