gCNG® blog » EPA

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.

Are Electric Vehicles Green?

gCNG host — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 21:11:04 +0000

Why the push for electric vehicles? Are they clean environmentally and/or an efficient use of fossil fuel energy? Not really! A study examining the “Well to Wheels” energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of various Alternative Fuels found the following in terms of Btu per gasoline gallon equivalent (gge) of consumed fuel:

electricity consumes over 280,473 Btu of fossil fuel per gge
E85 ethanol produced from corn consumes about 190,869 Btu/gge
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from landfill gas consumed zero Btu/gge of fossil energy

On emissions, CNG derived from landfill gas is by far the cleanest fuel. The results below are stated in grams per equivalent gallons of gasoline (gge) of the consumed fuel for emissions:

electricity generates 23,780 grams of emissions per gge
E85 ethanol produced from corn generates 8,009 grams of emissions per gge
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) from landfill gas generates 270 grams of emissions per gge

Data Source: Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) model 1.8d

Find more fuel facts at: firmgreen.com

New Vehicle Labels Provide More Info on Fuel Costs & Emission

gCNG host — Tue, 31 May 2011 17:17:10 +0000

On May 25, 2011 regulation was signed that requires automakers to implement new vehicle labels by 2013 – manufacturers can voluntarily adopt the new label earlier.

What does this mean for you? The new labels are intended to provide consumers with much more accurate information about the actual costs of fueling the vehicle of their choice over the next five years compared to the average new vehicle. For the first time, consumers will be able to compare energy use and emissions for new vehicles – side by side – including comparison between gasoline and electric, plug-in hybrids and other alternative fuels.

The new label features meaningful comparison of tailpipe emissions, and the energy factors that were used to create the rating. Consumers will be able to scan a barcode on the label with their smartphone at the car dealership to get information specific to their location in terms of electricity and/or local fuel costs, provided they have downloaded the scanner app. The same information will be available at fueleconomy.gov.

The bottom line is that the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are trying to give consumers the best information possible to understand the total costs of their new vehicle purchase, from fuel economy to environmental impact.
Learn more at fueleconomy.gov

Interview with Miles George, VP of TransEco Energy, Inc.

gCNG host — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:58:17 +0000

Miles talked with gCNG blog about TransEco’s involvement in CNG for transportation, and shared his view of where the market is going in the next year, both in the U.S. and globally. TransEco Energy is dedicated to the development and growth of alternative energy for the transportation sector. The company was founded in 2006.

Q. How did you get started in the business of CNG for transportation?

A. We already have CNG stations in Europe and we decided to investigate the United States market. We quickly realized that the U.S. needed to become less dependent on foreign oil and reduce pollution in the transportation sector.

Q. When & why did you get involved in the vehicle side of CNG?

A. We built our first CNG Fast fill fueling station in 2007 in Asheville, NC and discovered that lack of certified conversion systems for vehicles was a significant hindrance to expanding the use of CNG as a vehicle fuel. TransEco President Alex Kovalchuk said: “In Asheville, the projection is to have about seven CNG stations within the next 5 years,” he reports. But those stations would be useless without CNG-powered vehicles, he notes, “So that’s why we decided to do the whole package: conversions, inspections, fuel, and servicing.” This is when we started a new division for CNG vehicle conversions called Altech-Eco in Oct 2006.

Q. Can you tell us a little about the different focus of Altech-Eco, TransEco, & NC-CNG and/or or how the companies work together?

A. Altech-Eco is a SVM registered with the EPA and the main objective is to obtain EPA and CARB approved conversion systems for vehicular use. NC-CNG is the CNG station operations division. TransEco Energy is our corporate office that handles administrative duties.

Q. Tell us about the typical process of getting a vehicle converted.

A. It can take around 3-6 months to get a vehicle certified and is a very expensive investment. Once conversion system is certified the conversion process takes approximately 6-8 hours.

Q. What limitations should I expect in terms of the type of vehicle that could be converted?

A. “We have the technology to convert just about any vehicle on the road today, but legally we are only allowed to convert vehicles which conversion system have been approved by EPA or CARB,” says company Vice President Miles George. “Vehicles can be converted to run exclusively on CNG or converted with the ability to switch back and forth between CNG and another type of fuel.”

Q. How does the current market situation help or hinder the expansion of CNG as a transportation fuel?

A. The timing is perfect for CNG to become more prominent as a transportation fuel. As demand increases the OEM vehicle manufacturer will start to offer CNG vehicles, but this will take some time. I think we need some help from the government to jumpstart the movement. If the NAT GAS ACT gets passed this should help. Please contact your House Members and ask them to cosponsor this legislation.

Q. Do you see a major difference in the global and domestic outlook for natural gas fueled transportation?

A. Outside the U.S. CNG has become very prominent. We are behind other countries as far as CNG infrastructure goes. Because of the this shortage of CNG stations in most areas we focus mostly on large commercial fleets and Government agencies that already have CNG stations.

Q. What legislation/policy changes does the company believe could be most beneficial to expansion of natural gas for transportation here in the U.S.?

A. NAT GAS ACT. Please contact your House Members and ask them to cosponsor this legislation.

gCNG blog note: the NAT GAS ACT legislation is HR 1835. Go to http://thomas.loc.gov and type HR1835 in the bill summary and status box to find out if your representative is a cosponsor of the bill. Phone or fax is the best way to reach your House Member due to security screening of mail; contact information for your Representative can be found at http://www.house.gov

Baytech obtains EPA and CARB certifications for its CNG engine

gCNG host — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:03:39 +0000

Baytech Corporation has obtained 2010 Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emissions certifications for the company’s dedicated compressed natural gas fueled 6.0L heavy duty engine. Read more…