gCNG® blog » Vehicles

President Supports Natural Gas for Transportation

gCNG host — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 04:11:07 +0000

President Obama called for more use of natural gas in transportation this Thursday while visiting a UPS facility in Las Vegas.

We commend the President for recognizing the immediate benefit of using a clean, domestic fuel such as natural gas: “A great place to start is natural gas,” stated Obama.

Based on his remarks, the President plans to support tax incentives for companies to buy more natural gas vehicles, specifically mentioning city bus fleets and the federal fleet. He also mentioned job creation in the context of using a domestic fuel and building infrastructure (it is an election year). We can only hope this support turns into legislation!

So, we’re a little biased – since the biomethane (natural gas from renewable sources) FirmGreen produces is a “drop in” fuel for a natural gas infrastructure. Obama said his administration would continue to work with the private sector to develop five natural gas corridors along major highway routes.

Click here for the White House PR.

Visit FirmGreen’s website to find out how using biomethane recovered from wasted resources can benefit your community.

Want to watch the speech? It’s here on C-Span:

Automakers to Hire U.S. Workers in 2012

gCNG host — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:05:16 +0000

Surprise —or not, automakers plan to ramp up hiring in the US for 2012. There are several reasons, the first being that auto sales are on a rebound from their historic lows during the recession, during which about 200,000 workers were laid off. Many jobs openings will recall workers who lost their jobs in previous layoffs, but it’s still good news for local economies as those workers will again have money to spend.

Industry analysts note that unfavorable currency exchange rates create a strong motivation for manufacturers to “build where you sell”.

Nissan plan to add around 1,000 workers at its existing Tennessee plant; South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are also considering major expansion of their US based manufacturing.

German automaker Audi may add a US plant at the existing Volkswagen facility in Chattanooga, Tenn. Both North and South Carolina stand to benefit as Mercedes-Benz and BMW ramp up operations at existing facilities in each state and hire workers. Domestic company Ford Motor Co. plans to add jobs at their factories in Wayne, Mich., Louisville, Ky., and Chicago. Chrysler plan to hire in Detroit, where it builds the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Viper.

Tesla Motors, Inc. and Coda Automotive, Inc. plan to ramp up employment in California as they bring new electric powered vehicles to market this year.

Of note: some new jobs will be at a significantly lower wage ($15 to $16/hr vs. $28 to $29/hr) than those for current or recalled workers that are ‘grandfathered in’ because of labor agreements.

Find out how FirmGreen is contributing to job growth by manufacturing green technology in the USA: …visit firmgreen.com

Future Fuel Economy Standards: $$ Saver?

gCNG host — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:25:52 +0000

The Obama administration says that proposed higher fuel economy standards can be expected to increase vehicle prices about $2000 but that owners will save an average of $6,600 in fuel costs over the life of the vehicle.

In order to be as realistic as possible (see figure above), we made a slightly less rosy analysis:

current purchase price of $25,000 for a vehicle with 19 MPG vs.
future cost of $27,500 (adding $2500 rather than $2000) for comparable vehicle with 36 MPG
fuel cost of $3.38 per gallon & 15,000 miles driven annually (we used the same assumptions as fueleconomy.gov)

Total 5 year fuel cost for the 19 MPG vehicle is: $13,342.10
Total 5 year fuel cost for the 36 MPG vehicle is: $ 7,041.65

So, our fuel cost savings result was $6,300.45 — very close to the government projections. After deducting the additional purchase cost for the more fuel efficient vehicle, you would save $3.800.45 over 5 years in the example above.

Some vehicle dealers are concerned that increases in vehicle costs put them out of reach for many consumers, and wonder whether there will be sufficient demand for highly fuel-efficient vehicles. (Unsurprisingly, truck dealers have expressed more concern on this issue than dealers whose current lineup primarily features more fuel efficient models.) Obviously, that depends heavily on the cost of fuel – it’s no secret that when fuels costs skyrocket, people are incentivized to replace a “gas guzzler” with a “fuel sipper”.

Automakers seem much more enthusiastic about fuel economy as they show off new fuel-efficient models at Detroit’s International Auto Show. See our previous posts for auto show highlights.

EVs and Hybrids Abound @ Detroit Auto Show

gCNG host — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:22:17 +0000

Electric cars abound; either familiar or exciting…as designers continue to figure out where to put that battery pack. Buyers were indifferent to hybrids in 201, but fuel economy regulations are creating the incentive for automakers to continue introducing new hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles (EVs). Ford, Toyota, Honda and other automakers are offering hybrid options for existing models. Below is a partial list of EVs and hybrids now showing in Detroit.

Acura ILX concept: would be an entry level model; a stylish sedan to be in showrooms later this year.

Acura NSX concept: Acura’s “halo car” sports coupe gets reintroduced with hybrid technology. The ILX and NSX are the first hybrids for Honda’s upscale Acura brand. Honda says it plans to build the NSX at a new plant they plan to build in Ohio. Hmmm, sounds like we should check back in 2-3 years and see if it happens at all.

Audi E-tron: sleek and powerful looking; wheels look like jet turbine blades

BMW Active Hybrid 3 & Active Hybrid 5 models: same look as their standard counterparts

BMW i3 concept: futuristic capsule, with windows that swoop well below the usual baseline of windows

BMW i8 concept: full frontal sports car
The BMW “i” vehicles will be built with a carbon fiber body instead of steel or aluminum, making them lighter, which extends their driving range.

Chevrolet Volt: sedan – and not just a concept
Fisker Karma: plug-in with rooftop solar panels that extend driving range
Ford electric Focus & Fusion: pretty much like other versions of the models

Lexus LF-LC concept: 2+2 hybrid sports coupe

Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec hybrid: looks much like non-hybrid diesel model; only for sale in Europe initially. We mentioned this in an earlier post.
Mercedes-Benz E400: gasoline-electric hybrid that looks no different than the non-hybrid version

Mitusbishi “i”: bean – or pod shaped? It’s your call; it’s much like their Japan market i-MiEV model

Nissan Leaf: just plain awkward looking

T.27 concept: a small car from Gordon Murray, designer of Formula One and the McLaren F1 supercar. This model has a pod-like shape that reminds one of a SmartCar & is intended to be low cost.

Tesla S: continues and updates Tesla’s traditional sports car coupe

Toyota NS4 concept: mid-size plug-in hybrid (Toyota says check back around 2015)

Volkswagen hybrid Jetta: much like the standard gasoline model
Volvo XC60 plug-in Hybrid concept: small SUV

Whew! Is that enough choices…? Most carry a significant premium over their conventionally powered counterparts, but — depending on fuel prices, the payback time period could be relatively short.

Amp is offering an electric conversion of the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee; yes, it looks just like the gasoline version & should, since it’s a conversion of same. Many of the auto makers are incorporating light weight materials into the body panels, and using a mix of recycled materials with virgin materials for the interior.

We wish automakers were offering more CNG models; the Honda Civic GX remains the only production CNG vehicle for the US market. If the NAT GAS Act were to become law, that could change.

The Detroit Auto Show is January 9-22, 2012.
Interested in more info about the show? click here to visit the show site Patience may be required; the website was overwhelmed earlier on the date of this post.

China Favors Domestic Electric Vehicles With Sales Tax Policy

gCNG host — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:05:58 +0000

China will waive sales taxes on 49 domestically made electric and fuel cell cars, the finance ministry said last Saturday, in its latest initiative to shore up the country’s fledgling green car market. As an added incentive, buyers of locally made electric cars are also eligible for government subsidies of up to 120,000 yuan ($19,100) per vehicle. Demand for electric cars has remained weak in China due to higher vehicle costs, limited vehicle range and lack of charging facilities.

Beijing has declared the electric vehicle industry a top priority, earmarking $1.5 billion a year for the next 10 years to transform the country into one of the leading producers of clean vehicles.

Imported models such as GM’s Chevy Volt are excluded from this policy, however the Sale electric car developed in a joint venture with GM and two EV’s made at Volkwagen’s two Chinese based car ventures, will qualify for the sales tax exemption. Included are vehicles made by:

BYD, backed by Warren Buffett
Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. – both EV and Fuel Cell (FCEV) models
China FAW Group Corp. – both EV and Fuel Cell (FCEV) models
Geely Automobile Holdings
Shanghai Volkswagen Automotive Co., Ltd. – Passat brand FCEV
…and others

Hybrids from MB to Launch at Detroit Auto Show

gCNG host — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:34:18 +0000

Today, December 21, Mercedes-Benz announced two new hybrid sedans. The E300 BlueTEC Hybrid (photo above) features a diesel-electric powertrain, while the E400 Hybrid is a more conventional gasoline-electric hybrid.

Initially the E300 will be available only in Europe, but many expect it to make a jump across the pond eventually, if for no other reason than that other BlueTEC Clean Diesel models are already available in the US. (click for more about MB hybrids) With its 201-horsepower (HP) 4-cylinder diesel engine and 27-HP electric motor, the E300 is rated at toughly 56 miles per gallon — a stop-start function and regenerative braking contribute significantly to this surprising fuel economy.

The E400 Hybrid is scheduled to arrive at dealerships in the US in the third quarter of 2012. Its powerplant combines a 302-HP direct-injection V-6 gasoline engine with a 27-HP electric motor to achieve fuel economy rated at 27 miles per gallon. The E400 also features the stop-start function and regenerative braking.

No word from Mercedes-Benz just yet on the pricing premium of these models over non-hybrids.

Both vehicles are slated for a formal debut at the Detroit auto show, January 9-22, 2012. Interested in more info about the show? click here to visit the show site

Taxi Service With a Twist

gCNG host — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:27:52 +0000

Okay, this PR stunt could hardly be less green…but worth a peek. Fast cars and chewing gum don’t usually go together, but for a promo in Mexico, Trident gum replaced a couple of taxis with exotic sports cars, and gives a few unsuspecting passengers the ride of their lives. Passenger reactions range from…well, just watch the video and see.

Biomethane for Transportation Fuel

gCNG host — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:37:01 +0000

On November 28-29th, Washington State University Energy Program and Washington Clean Cities will host a 2-part webinar on Biomethane as a Transportation Fuel.

Speakers from Argonne National Laboratory and Brookhaven National Laboratory will be featured. Topics will include discussion of technologies for producing biomethane (or renewable natural gas), costs and benefits, plus opportunities for biomethane use as a transportation fuel.

Registration and more information about the webinar series is online.
click here for registration info (PDF document opens in new tab or window)

DOE Report Recommends Shift to EVs to Reduce Petroleum Dependence

gCNG host — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:38:07 +0000

Research on solar and wind power is well and good, but a recent report from the Department of Energy recommends a significant shift of government led technology investment to developing cleaner transportation energy, an area in which renewable power sources currently do not play a significant role.

“Reliance on oil is the greatest immediate threat to U.S. economic and national security, and also contributes to the long-term threat of climate change,’’ the report states. (page IX of the Executive Summary) Fine so far: we agree!

In the transportation sector, the DOE intends to focus on technologies that “significantly reduce oil consumption and diversify fuel sources for on-road transportation.” Step one (see the chart above) involves continued increases in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Beyond improving fuel efficiency, the DOE seems to have concluded that electrification of fleets represents the next best step. What?

Considering that almost 20% of our electricity generation is still powered by coal, electrification of vehicles will do little to reduce carbon emissions. So a push toward EV’s prior to cleaning up our electrical generation seems odd. However, recent government efforts to support primarily one biofuel – ethanol – have come under heavy criticism and may partially explain the lack of enthusiasm for biofuels. It’s no secret that ethanol production from corn puts it in competition with food supplies, and may require more energy to produce than can be obtained from using the fuel. Current research in this area is focusing on use of waste crop products, such as corn stalks and husks, but researchers admit that such fuels are multiple generations away from market viability. Hydrogen and fuel cells aren’t anywhere near ready for prime time either. Hence, the DOE concludes a shift to EV’s is the best near-term opportunity to reduce reliance on petroleum for transportation.

The report mentions another hurdle for biofuels besides ethanol: alternative transportation technologies must compete with the established fueling infrastructure. That hurdle is real, but it is unlikely to be overcome if there is little will to do so. We think another fact stated in this same report (p.17) provides ample reason for a will to surmount this hurdle: oil imports at current prices contribute 70% of the United States’ trade deficit. Budgets are tight these days, but some funding of new fueling infrastructure would also create some jobs, ultimately increasing tax revenues.

The DOE mentions natural gas as a transportation fuel, and then seems to dismiss it as a solution: the report states that “recent expansion of domestic gas reserves has…raised the possibility of exports.” In other words, not only do we have enough for domestic use, but we could actually export to other nations. Strangely, the report then concludes that such a linkage to global markets could make the US economy vulnerable to price swings in that market. This is amazing: it’s a little like concluding that Saudi Arabia’s economy is vulnerable to swings in the global price of oil. Technically true of course, but historically economic vulnerability from oil price swings has been much greater for nations that import than for those that are net exporters.

Some disclosure is appropriate here: FirmGreen is in the business of recovering and cleaning wasted methane (natural gas) from sources such as landfills and waste water treatment plants to produce natural gas fuel equivalent to pipeline quality. Obviously, policies that support adoption of natural gas as a transportation fuel could benefit our company. However, we fail to see how transitioning from a fuel for which we must import almost 50% of what we use, to a fuel that we have in sufficient enough quantity to export makes the US more economically vulnerable.

In fairness to the report, another stated goal is to derive 80% of America’s electricity from clean-energy sources by 2035. A great idea, and one that will require continued innovation, especially in the area of energy storage (i.e., battery technology) and improving the grid to reliably deal with fluctuations in production inherent in renewables such as solar and wind. Domestic natural gas, including biomethane would have a supporting role to play here as well – that of clean backup power when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. However, greater adoption of renewables for power generation could still be expected to free up domestic natural gas supplies for transportation use. That this is the essence of the Pickens Plan doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Until we shift to cleaner power generation, a shift to EV’s will do little to clear the air, though it may slightly reduce demand for imported petroleum.

In our view, improving fuel efficiency is good policy. But we believe a rapid shift toward alternatives such as domestically produced natural gas for transportation is more likely to deliver near-term as well as long-term benefits, both environmentally and economically, over a strategy of electrifying our fleets.

Read or download the full DOE report (PDF)

Biomethane Fleets in the News

gCNG host — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:01:09 +0000

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) plan to run delivery trucks on biomethane for the London 2012 Olympic Games throughout the event, as part of its efforts to significantly reduce vehicle emissions for is fleet. The company has already been testing biomethane fuel in the United Kingdom (UK), with the fuel derived from landfill gas at a landfill facility in Surrey.

CCE has been so pleased with the results thus far that it plans to target its heavy duty fleet for conversion/replacement to run on biomethane.
More on this story at roadtransport.com

Waste Management (WM) rolled out its 1000th natural gas powered refuse truck just a few days ago, celebrating with a ceremony at its Carson, California fleet yard. With this vehicle, a full third of WM’s fleet is now powered with biomethane. The clean biomethane fuel is being sourced from a landfill in Livermore, California.