1. Use natural gas for vehicle fuel, as well as other alternatives, so our U.S. dollars stay out of foreign hands that promote terror against the free people of our planet.

2. Drive a natural gas vehicle to help keep our air clean and healthy for the families and descendents of those who have served.

3. Always, always participate whenever we have a choice and a vote in the democratic process in our country.  Be a voice to help and improve what we have, and to change what can be better!

4. Always remind our representatives that they represent us, tell them what's on your mind and how you feel about the issues and that it should be of concern to them also.

5. Participate in groups and organizations that help promote good things in our country.  Scouts, Church, Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, LOCAL CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS, etc.

6. Don't ever be afraid to share with family, friends, government & media what natural gas vehicles can do for our nation, citizens and economy.

7. Along with # 6, don't be afraid to make sure your auto dealer knows we want natural gas vehicles in the show rooms in America, they are doing it

in other countries, why are our US manufacturers short changing the American consumers choices on NGV's? And what is the EPA doing to help conversions certify quicker & cheaper?

 

 

After the destructive earthquake in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province on May 12, China Petrochemical Corporation (CPC), or Sinopec, has been reported as being able to maintain normal operations on a number of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in the Chengdu area, the capital of Sichuan. At present, Sinopec supplies Chengdu with 1.3 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, which is basically the same quantity as that before the earthquake. At the epicenter, Mianyang, the company is supplying 130,000 cubic meters per day, of which 100,000 cubic meters are going to northern Sichuan disaster relief vehicles. CPC should be commended for keeping the fuel going to aid local recovery efforts and those driving CNG disaster relief vehicles.

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GM is adding a turbo charged dual fuel CNG engine to its popular Opel Zafira model in 2009, currently only a natural aspirated CNG engine is available.

"Environmental awareness and driving fun are no longer mutually exclusive," says Alain Visser, Chief Marketing Officer, GM Europe. "With this newly developed turbocharged CNG engine, we continue pursuing our strategy of turbocharging engines to increase efficiency - meaning lower consumption and emissions - without making any concessions in performance."  What could GM badge this car under in the USA????

 

Volvo Automobile (Schweiz) AG. has unveiled an exclusively Swiss Edition Volvo V50 1.8 "Multifuel" car, which can run on either ethanol, gasoline, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or biogas. Volvo's Swiss bureau has led the project, which will introduce V50 and V70 as Multifuel models. This project has been conducted in cooperation with F.+Ch. Mueller AG, which specializes in the conversion of vehicles to use gas. The V50 model has a 1.8 litre engine with two gas cylinders of 43 litres providing a driving distance of 250 km with gas. The volume of the E85/gasoline tank is 55 litres. Both the V50 and V70 cars are offered through Swiss Volvo dealers starting in June 2008.   Neither Ford nor their Volvo division have any plans for adding CNG in the USA.

 

"Alternative fuel research and development is just one of the ways that UPS is mitigating climate change risks," said Bob Stoffel, UPS's corporate sustainability officer. "We also are focused on aggressive conservation programs and improving network efficiency to cut fuel use." The Natural Gas Chassis are manufactured by Freightliner.

 

By year's end, the Leitz group wants to have 80 NGVs, making up more than one third of all vehicles in the company's fleet. They could give Honda some competition in the USA, especially with a dual fuel, since the Honda GX is sold out until  the 2009's are available in October!

 

THE COST PENDULUM SWINGS BACK IN FAVOR OF NATURAL GAS

Many people don't realize that at the start of the automobile industry, natural gas was often tested in many different engine models.  However, large scale use of natural gas for transport was put aside in favor of low cost liquid fuels such as gasoline and diesel. Natural gas was thus utilized for other applications such as heating or commercial uses. Since that time, things have changed - natural gas is more widely available, it can be produced from renewable sources, is an undoubted leader in environmental benefits. It can now also compete with liquid fuels. All of these factors make it timely to consider the importance of natural gas as a transport fuel which is why delegates from around the world will converge on Rio de Janiero in less than two weeks for NGV 2008.  www.ngv2008.com.br

 

Telecommunications giant AT&T Inc. has announced plans to add 105 alternative-fuel vehicles to the corporate fleet to reduce its impact on the environment and its dependence on imported oil. Included in the selection of vehicles are 25 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vans. The vehicles will roll out in various locations across the U.S. beginning in June. A Green Technology insignia will make the vehicles easy to identify on the road. AT&T estimates that its use of alternative-fueled and more fuel-efficient vehicles will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 124 metric tons and conserve nearly 34,395 gallons of fuel annually. In particular the CNG vans are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 30 percent compared with traditional gasoline vans. 

Swedish Biogas Company Expands To Michigan

The city of Flint, Michigan and an alternative energy company, Swedish Biogas International, announced a joint plan to build a plant to convert waste from the city's wastewater facility into biomethane.  Flint would be the first location for the Swedish company, which hopes to build plants nation-wide, said Peter Unden, the CEO of Swedish Biogas. The project will receive $6 to $10 million in start-up money from federal and state grants as well as Sweden and private money. Initially, the biomethane would fuel Flint's fleet of municipal vehicles.  The partners hope spin-off businesses will grow up around the operation to convert engines and gas tanks on private vehicles to biomethane and provide a source for new jobs.  "We can generate clean energy out of waste and create new jobs for Flint," Flint Mayor Don Williamson said.  "This is the biggest no-brainer in the history of mankind," said James R. Hiendlmayr, owner of Bio-Gas Technologies in Norwalk, Ohio. "Why waste something you can put to beneficial use?"
Buses, taxis, garbage trucks and cars in Sweden run on biomethane, making up about 2 percent of the country's transportation fuel, Unden said. There are about 100 biomethane fueling stations across Sweden.  A 2007 report estimated that 12,000 vehicles are being fueled with biomethane worldwide, with 70,000 biomethane-fueled vehicles predicted by 2010. Europe has most of these vehicles.

 Chinese Lifan Motors To Supply CNG Dual Fuel 520 Model To Peru Market 

 

Lifan has already sold 100 of the 520's since January, even before the official announcement in Peru. Next the CNG 520 will be offered

in Columbia, Chile and Venezuela followed by Uruguay and Ecuador. 

 

Country backs financing for transportation sector to convert to natural gas

 

Citing a 70% budgeted savings for fuel over petroleum, Peru is converting or replacing 4,546 unleaded National Police Patrol cars with natural gas. The current diesel powered vehicles in the police fleet will be converted to propane.

 

Manaus, Capital City of Amazonas State in Brazil has mandated all new public transportation vehicles are required to run on natural gas.

 

Fresno California to Trial First CNG Hybrid Electric Plug In Garbage Truck

Odyne Corporation announced that the City of Fresno has held a press conference to debut and demonstrate the world's first compressed natural gas refuse vehicle equipped with Odyne's PHEV technology.  The event was held in Fresno, Calif., and in attendance were Fresno Public Utilities Director, Rene Ramirez, Fresno Council of Governments Planner, Jason Paukovits, and City of Fresno Deputy Mayor, Jeff Eben, who acknowledged the City of Fresno's Department of Public Utilities for their extensive legwork necessary to accomplish the project. "This truck is part of a citywide energy conservation strategy," says Eben. "There is an expected 90 percent reduction in smog-forming emissions." The refuse collector has a 10 mile engine-off, zero-emissions driving mode of operation, and has the ability to plug into the grid, fully recharging its batteries and offsetting its fuel consumption.  It consumes clean CNG fuel as opposed to diesel, making it the first plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) CNG refuse collection truck. The vehicle will quietly navigate through residential neighborhoods, collecting trash, while not polluting the environment and not consuming imported fuels. Odyne believes that this is the product of the near future and Fresno has set the standard for other cities to follow. Also on hand at the kick-off event was Odyne Executive Vice President, Gus Sfakianos, who states, "Fresno's enthusiasm and desire for clean alternative fuels and plug-in hybrid systems has lead the way for the deployment of the world's first plug-In CNG refuse collection vehicle. Four years ago, when the rest of the country was trying to understand the future potential and advantages of a plug-in hybrid, the City of Fresno, with its environmentally progressive staff, wrote a specifications document for just such a vehicle. Odyne responded by developing a rechargeable electric hybrid drive system, that has become part of a citywide energy conservation strategy, which will also serve to improve air quality." Odyne's plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) powertrain and battery control technology enables buses and trucks to operate more efficiently. By plugging the vehicle into the grid, which may be done at low-cost, off-peak hours, the operator substitutes electricity for more expensive vehicle fuel, displacing the imported oil used in diesel or gasoline powered vehicles, and reduces emissions; the hybrid technology provides increased fuel efficiency, and lower maintenance expenses.

PM-10 Health Watch

Items for this newsletter were gathered from many sources including  www.gnvmagazine.com  & www.ngvglobal.com

 

        

 

 

 

 

Dave Clement
Owner
CNG Services of Arizona
Authorized FuelMaker Dealer for Arizona
Ph.  480-461-5166
Cel. 480-789-1498
Web: www.CNGaz.com
Help Keep Arizona Skies Clean and Blue- Drive a Natural Gas Vehicle!
ROC231066  AZ Licensed Natural Gas Fueling Equipment Contractor