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:

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.
]]> http://www.buycng.com/wordpress/2012/01/future-fuel-economy-savings/feed/ 0 http://www.buycng.com/wordpress/2012/01/methane-reduction-delivers-climate-benefits-at-lower-cost/ http://www.buycng.com/wordpress/2012/01/methane-reduction-delivers-climate-benefits-at-lower-cost/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:16:06 +0000 gCNG host http://www.buycng.com/wordpress/?p=695 A new scientific analysis published today in Science, urges a focus on methane and soot (black carbon) emission reduction to deliver the quickest and greatest range of benefits – ranging from improved human health to increased crop yields. Benefits could start being seen in just weeks or months, rather than decades, according to one scientist...Read more

A new scientific analysis published today in Science, urges a focus on methane and soot (black carbon) emission reduction to deliver the quickest and greatest range of benefits – ranging from improved human health to increased crop yields.

The major reason for focusing on reduction of these particular greenhouse gases (GHGs) is that methane and soot have a significantly stronger greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide (CO2), but remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter time period. Therefore a reduction today means a rapid effect in “….weeks or months, not decades or centuries,” according to atmospheric physicist Veerabhadran Ramanathan, of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California, San Diego.

Even better news: out of about 400 emission control measures studied, the team of researchers noted that just 14 of those steps generated 90% of the benefits. Third on the list is capturing methane — also known as biogas, from landfills in the U.S. and China. Other steps on the “top 14″ list involve capture of methane from other sources, such as coal mines or petroleum exploration. In addition, the study found that many of these measures provide more economic value in benefits than their cost.

The study doesn’t go into how much more GHG reduction and economic benefit could result from use of captured and cleaned methane to displace the use of dirtier fuels such as coal and diesel. That’s an obvious next step, and one that FirmGreen has been pursuing since 2002, with its strategy of displacing dirtier transportation fuels with cleaned methane (known as biomethane) from wasted resources such as landfills, waste water treatment plants, and livestock operations.

Find out more about how FirmGreen is using wasted biogas resources to generate economic value and benefit the environment: www.firmgreen.com

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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.

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

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

Obviously, market development is required for increased use of biomethane in the transport sector, and support in the U.S. currently lags well behind that in the EU. In an article available online, a UK Environmental Audit states that “biomethane is an almost perfect renewable transport fuel.” The audit concludes that wide adoption of CNG and biomethane for transport will deliver the greatest air quality benefits at the lowest cost, especially when compared to expensive battery powered hybrid electric vehicles.

NGV refueling stations are somewhat costly to install (though not significantly more costly than a new fossil fuel station) and are only commercially viable if they refuel a significant number of vehicles — such as a fleet. Therefore the market penetration of NGVs for personal vehicles suffers from a classic problem; fuel suppliers are reluctant to construct refueling stations until there are sufficient numbers of NGVs, and consumers are unwilling to purchase the vehicles until there are sufficient refueling stations.

How do we get past this longstanding issue? A 2011 European Commission (EC) report on smart gas grids concludes that NG fueling stations can be located near their existing natural gas grid, avoiding the need for a costly build out of new gas distribution infrastructure. A similar approach might significantly reduce the overall cost of NG fueling infrastructure development, even for geographically large countries such as the U.S. However, the U.S. would still have large NG fueling gaps in areas that are not along natural gas pipeline routes, so a focus on fueling for fleets continues to make sense economically. Locating fueling hubs near fuel feedstock supplies such as landfills and waste-water treatment facilities is likely to continue as a limiting factor for biomethane use, unless national energy policy supports NG as a transportation fuel on a long term basis.

The European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI), is a related effort underway in the EU to accelerate commercialization of advanced sustainable bioenergy. The broadest objective of this organization is to bring sustainable energy and fuel products to market at costs competitive with fossil fuels. Biomethane is one of several paths being explored to bring cost effective renewable fuels to the market; developing coherent policy that promotes a willingness for industry to invest in alternative fuels and energy is a primary task.

Find clean fuel facts about biomethane and CNG at: firmgreen.com

Links to article sources:
UK Parliament Environmental Audit Summary (opens in new window or tab)

EC Report on Smart Gas Grids – biomethane references, pp15-16 (PDF opens in new window)

European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI) (opens in new window or tab)

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)