NGVAmerica News Week in Review: June 20, 2016

 

• Agility and Hexagon Composites to Merge to Create Agility Fuel Solutions 
• SCAQMD Webinar to Discuss Prop 1B Funding for Natural Gas Trucks
• American Natural Gas Opens CNG Station in New York
• Clean Energy Introduces New CleanCNG Compressor
• Omnitek Engineering Appoints Hiller Truck Tech as Authorized Conversion Center
• Hexagon Receives Large Order for TITAN XL Trailers
• Iveco Launches New Stralis NP Natural Gas Truck for the Long-Haul Market in Europe
• Finnish Container Transport Specialist Deploys First LNG Container Truck

 

Agility and Hexagon Composites to Merge to Create Agility Fuel Solutions 

June 15, 2016

Hexagon Composites and Agility Fuel Systems announced that the companies will merge Hexagon Composites’ CNG Automotive Products Division, which includes medium and heavy duty vehicle composite cylinder manufacturing operations and its bus systems business unit, with Agility to form Agility Fuel Solutions. The new entity will be owned equally by Hexagon Composites and Agility’s current investors.

The companies say the merger is positioned to drive innovation in the industry, while better serving the global market and expanding its product offerings worldwide. The strategic integration of fuel systems and cylinders will provide value by reducing up-front costs, accelerating commercialization of new product ideas and driving faster returns on investments. The combined company will have production sites in the US, Norway and Brazil, with technical centers located in Lincoln, Nebraska and Kelowna, British Columbia. Agility Fuel Solutions will manufacture cylinders for use in its systems, as well as for direct sale.

“This merger combines two market leaders with strong backgrounds in engineering creativity, profitable growth and operational excellence” said Kathleen Ligocki, named CEO of the newly merged company, Agility Fuel Solutions. “Agility is proud of our successful relationship with Hexagon, and together we will target driving adoption of clean natural gas systems in commercial vehicle markets around the world.”

Hexagon’s Mobile Pipeline, Hydrogen Products and Light Duty Vehicles divisions will continue to operate as Hexagon Composites. The transaction is expected to close in the 3^rd quarter of 2016.

 

SCAQMD Webinar to Discuss Prop 1B Funding for Natural Gas Trucks

June 17, 2016

On June 23, 2016, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) will hold an educational webinar to discuss the Proposition 1B funding that became available earlier this month. The $50 million in available funding is seen as a great driver for further natural gas truck deployments in California, especially for trucks featuring the new Cummins Westport Near Zero NOx natural gas engine.

The Proposition 1B Program is administered by a partnership between SCAQMD and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to quickly reduce air pollution from freight movement along California’s trade corridors. Projects must achieve early or extra emission reductions not otherwise required by law or regulation. The funding provides for up to $200,000 in truck replacement costs for clean advanced technologies and up to $100,000 for zero emission transport refrigeration units (TRUs).

The complimentary webinar is open to the public to ensure fleets in California that operate Class 6, 7 or 8 trucks, as well as those who own and operate (or are looking to own and operate) fueling infrastructure for trucks, are well aware of the funding that could be available to them. The one-hour webinar will explore Proposition 1B funding for heavy-duty truck replacements, TRUs and supporting infrastructure.

Topics covered will include dey eligibility criteria, technology options and funding amounts, deadlines and application overview, SCAQMD responses to questions submitted by webinar attendees when registering.

For more information and to register, click here.

 

American Natural Gas Opens CNG Station in New York

June 15, 2016

American Natural Gas (ANG) has opened the first public CNG fueling station north of Albany, New York. The facility is located off of I-87, halfway between New York City and Montreal, in Saratoga Springs, New York.

“This project is consistent with the goals of our Climate Smart Task Force, which is working with businesses and residents to identify actions that our community can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy-saving strategies and sustainability practices,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor Yepsen. “I am hopeful that many Saratoga-based fleets will consider switching to clean-burning natural gas, allowing them to reap the cost-savings and emission-reduction benefits of the fuel.”

As ANG designed the Saratoga station, it selected equipment with regional long haul, public transportation, and return-to-base fleets in mind. The station has two 200 HP Cobey Energy compressors with two points of temperature compensation and a Xebec dryer. It features two fueling lanes and Bennett CRIND dispensers that can accommodate Class 8 semi tractor-trailers.

ANG has guided regional fleets, such as Tops Friendly Markets in Buffalo and Casella Waste Systems in Rutland, Vermont, through their conversions to CNG. ANG has also partnered with Try-It Distributing, the parent company of Saratoga Eagle, to supply CNG to their beverage distribution fleet.

As an introductory offer, ANG will celebrate the opening by offering CNG for only $1.19 per GGE. ANG has planned a ribbon cutting event will include a fueling demonstration on July 27, 2016.

 

Clean Energy Introduces New CleanCNG Compressor

June 14, 2016

Clean Energy Fuels has introduced a heavy duty non-lubricated compressor for the natural gas fueling market. The CleanCNG, developed by engineers at Clean Energy’s subsidiary Clean Energy Compression in Chilliwack, British Columbia, incorporates improvements in compressor design and engineering, resulting in ultra-low vibration and noise in a high-performance, scalable compressor.

The CleanCNG is the result of a complete ground-up re-engineering of the CleanCNG Standard. The new compressor features standardized and modular construction, which improves initial specification and cost-effectiveness, quicker delivery time and more reliable operation with extended service intervals. The CleanCNG is available in 150 HP – 300 HP configurations.

The low operating noise is a standard feature of the CleanCNG, making it suitable for even residential neighborhood installations. Vibration measurements exceed API 618 and recommended industry guidelines.

The CleanCNG control system, assembly and enclosure are designed and built to be mated together in an expandable manner. Proprietary heat management ensures that heated air is not recirculated between compressors, and performance remains consistent regardless of the number of compressors. Clean Energy compressors also avoid the contamination resulting from injected oil in competitive lubricated designs and the CleanCNG delivers clean oil carry over of less than 5 parts per million.

TransLink, the regional transit authority to Metro Vancouver, B.C., and the first Canadian transportation provider to achieve Platinum sustainability status from the American Transportation Association, recently purchased six of the new CleanCNG units.

“We were impressed with the CleanCNG™ because it offers us the low oil carry-over we count on but also a significant opportunity to decrease capital and operating costs because of simpler deployment and improved serviceability,” said Joe Buck, Senior VP of Acquisition at TransLink. “Longer-term, the CleanCNG™ offers the most scalable platform available, which will allow us to expand as needed to meet our growing fleet fueling requirements.”

Clean Energy Compression facilities meets all ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System requirements. CleanCNG compressors are available using a variety of cylinder configurations and inlet pressures. Multiple compressor systems, using two or three modular compressor packages that can be integrated together on-site, offer higher overall flow rates and system redundancy.

 

Omnitek Engineering Appoints Hiller Truck Tech as Authorized Conversion Center

June 16, 2016

Omnitek Engineering Corp. has appointed Hiller Truck Tech, based in Ontario, Canada, as an authorized diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion center to address the increasing demand for natural gas powered heavy duty engines in Canada.

“Hiller Truck Tech is well-positioned from a technical and capacity standpoint to accelerate fleet conversions in Canada, and we look forward to working with this highly regarded service organization,” said Werner Funk, president and CEO of Omnitek Engineering Corp.

Funk noted that Hiller will offer fleet operators a choice of either a diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion of a customer’s heavy-duty truck, or the option of purchasing a new Glider built by Hiller with an overhauled and converted “drop-in” ready natural gas engine.

“We are seeing renewed interest in diesel engine conversions from our customers, especially because of the environmental and economic benefits,” said David Hiller, president of Hiller Truck Tech.

Omnitek says recent industry reports indicate the Canadian government is expected to allocate up to $8.3 billion on climate change initiatives over the next five years, with Ontario expected to spend up to $100 million to help natural gas suppliers create more fueling stations to encourage more trucks to switch from diesel and gasoline.

 

Hexagon Receives Large Order for TITAN XL Trailers
June 20, 2016

Hexagon Lincoln has received an order for TITAN XL trailers from Xpress Natural Gas with a total estimated value of $8 million. This order represents a significant expansion to XNG’s already substantial TITAN fleet, which the company uses as its standard trailer to deliver natural gas to industrial, commercial and municipal customers throughout the United States and Canada. The order coincides with the expected US DOT approval of the TITAN XL and includes an option to further purchase additional trailers worth up to $16 million. Deliveries are scheduled to begin the fourth quarter of 2016.

“Our customers are focused on utility-grade gas solutions to convert their operations to natural gas,” says John Nahill, CEO of Xpress Natural Gas. “The TITAN XL will enable us to offer greater reliability through volume efficiencies, and is another example of our ongoing commitment to bring low-cost, cleaner natural gas to companies and gas utility partners across North America.”

The TITAN XL, introduced to Latin America in 2015, represents the globally largest volume road trailer for the transportation of CNG. Its carbon fiber Type 4 cylinders allow it to meet the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) limitations of several US states.

 

Iveco Launches New Stralis NP Natural Gas Truck for the Long-Haul Market in Europe

June 16, 2016

Iveco has launched the new Stralis NP, which runs on CNG and LNG, to the European market. The Stralis NP features the new Iveco Cursor 9 Natural Power Euro VI engine and is Iveco’s first natural gas truck with a 12-speed automated gearbox. In the LNG-only version, the Stralis NP has a record range of more than 900 miles.

Iveco says improvements to the Stralis NP include a 3 percent reduction in the total cost of ownership compared to the previous model, which already enjoyed fuel cost savings of 40 percent compared to its diesel equivalent.

The new 8.7L Iveco Cursor 9 Natural Gas engine leverages on the stoichiometric solution Iveco developed 25 years ago. The performance has been further improved with important engineering upgrades: re-profiled intake ports increase fuel economy, injectors and rail have been modified to allow a higher fuel injection pressure and a new high-flow 3-way catalyst minimizes noise and consumption. The engine delivers the same output of 400 hp as its diesel equivalent.

 

Finnish Container Transport Specialist Deploys First LNG Container Truck

June 18, 2016

The Finnish shipping container transport company Speed has introducing an LNG-fueled Volvo truck to its fleet operating from Helsinki’s Vuosaari Harbor. It is the first step in a move to cleaner container transport from the harbor with the truck running on clean-burning natural gas. Gasum is developing the filling station network enabling the use of LNG in heavy-duty transport, and an LNG refueling station for heavy duty vehicles will open at Vuosaari Harbor in August.

“We want to lead the way in the transport sector and introduce new, more environmentally friendly vehicles to our fleet,” says Managing Director Tuomo Vallas Speed Oy. “We’ve already been involved for four years in an Eco-Truck trial where large-capacity modular combination vehicles are operated under a special permit granted by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency (Trafi). LNG is a natural step in our efforts to make transport greener.”

Gasum plans to develop 35 new natural gas stations over the next ten years. An LNG refueling station for heavy duty vehicles will be opened at Vuosaari Harbor in August, while an LCNG filling station will be ready for service at the Port of Turku in September. LCNG stations will also be opened in Jyväskylä and Vantaa in 2017. This infrastructure now under construction will also enable the use of renewable natural gas in heavy duty transport.