NGVAmerica News Week in Review: July 11, 2016

 

• LA DOT Adds New CNG-Powered Commuter Coaches to Transit Fleet
• ATA Announces Chris Spear to Be Federation’s New President
• GAIN Clean Fuel and FastFlow CNG to Construct CNG Station in Texas for C.A.T.
• Ryder Named to Food Logistics’ Top Green Providers List for 2016
• Optimum Awarded Patent for Type 4 Boss Cylinder
• NGVi Launches CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification Program
• Hexagon Composites to Supply CNG Cylinders for Vehicle Conversions in Indonesia
• La Poste and ENGIE Partner to Develop Green Mobility in France

 

LA DOT Adds New CNG-Powered Commuter Coaches to Transit Fleet

July 7, 2016

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LA DOT) added nine additional Commuter Coaches from New Flyer subsidiary Motor Coach Industries (MCI). The new 45-ft. coaches, purchased off an option at an estimated cost of $6.8 million, brings the number of CNG-powered MCI coaches now part of LA DOT’s fleet to 104.

According to LA DOT Chief of Transit Corinne Ralph, the new 45-ft. models serve the agency’s goal to improve the quality of express service by replacing older buses, expanding seating capacity, and leveraging technology for improved operational integration. The new coaches come equipped with the Cummins Westport 8.9L ISX-G CNG engine, which has helped LA DOT lower its emissions.

LA DOT’s Commuter Express system connects outlying suburban districts with Downtown Los Angeles and other busy centers including Century City, Westwood, LAX, El Segundo, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank and Encino. LA DOT first ordered 84 CNG MCI Commuter Coaches in 2011.

 

ATA Announces Chris Spear to Be Federation’s New President

June 8, 2016

American Trucking Associations (ATA) announced that former ATA senior vice president of legislative affairs, Chris Spear, will serve as the federation’s next president and chief executive officer effective July 9. He succeeds Bill Graves, who is retiring after more than 13 years with ATA.

Spear is currently vice president of government affairs at Hyundai Motor Company and has a long career on Capitol Hill, in federal agencies, as well as in the private sector. Previously, Spear successfully led ATA’s efforts on the Hill and was instrumental in developing and advancing the association’s strategic advocacy agenda, which resulted in public policy that advanced ATA’s pro-trucking, pro-safety and pro-efficiency agenda.

“Chris’ enthusiasm for the trucking industry and the mission of ATA – to effectively advocate and communicate efforts that improve safety and profitability for our members – is second to none,” said ATA Chairman Pat Thomas, senior vice president of state government affairs at UPS. “We had many excellent candidates for the position, but Spear is the right fit for the organization.”

Spear, recognized as a passionate advocate, effective communicator and relationship builder, has a wealth of political experience in Washington and in the business arena. Spear was vice president of global government relations at Honeywell International, and he held Executive Branch positions including Assistant Secretary of Labor. Spear also served as professional staff for Sens. Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), Mike Enzi (R-WY.) and Alan Simpson (R-WY). He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Wyoming.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to lead this great association and serve this vital industry,” said Spear. “Trucking is the backbone of our economy and a catalyst for American job growth, delivering critical goods to businesses and homes coast-to-coast. I am excited to work alongside ATA’s members and federation partners to ensure the industry continues to prosper and safely move our nation forward.”

“It’s been my honor to lead ATA as President and CEO for almost 14 years. I’ll always appreciate the opportunity ATA members afforded me in 2001 when I was chosen for the position and the support they’ve provided since 2003 when I moved to Washington to assume that role,” Graves said. “Trucking has always been close to my heart and I’m very proud that a trucking company bore my family’s name. Now is the time to pass on the leadership responsibility to Chris, a person whom I have great respect for and confidence in his ability to lead ATA.”

Graves will serve as an advisor to ATA for the remainder of 2016.

 

GAIN Clean Fuel and FastFlow CNG to Construct CNG Station in Texas for C.A.T.

July 11, 2016

GAIN Clean Fuel is continuing their partnership with FastFlow CNG, a division of Independence Fuel Systems (IFS) to build and manage another GAIN Clean Fuel and FastFlow CNG co-branded CNG station in Southern Texas. The station, located in Laredo, Texas, will meet the CNG fueling needs of C.A.T. to provide the North American carrier and other trucking fleets with an alternative fuel.  This GAIN Clean Fuel/FastFlow CNG station is scheduled to be open in September 2016.

“This site will complete the network of CNG stations we need to fuel CNG trucks on our routes,” said C.A.T. Inc. President Daniel Goyette. “We have successfully added CNG to our fleet over the past year and have seen substantial savings in emissions.”

Nearly a third of C.A.T.’s fleet of 350 tractors have been converted to CNG. This station, along with four additional GAIN Clean Fuel stations opened last year in Toronto, Ontario; Coteau-du-Lac, Montreal; Charlotte, North Carolina and Scranton, Pennsylvania, as part of the partnership, will be combined with the existing GAIN Clean Fuel North American network to provide C.A.T. access to a reliable source of CNG.

 

Ryder Named to Food Logistics’ Top Green Providers List for 2016

July 6, 2016

Ryder System has been named one of the “Top Green Providers” by Food Logistics for the fifth consecutive year. Food Logistics’ annual “Top Green Providers” list recognizes companies whose products, services, or exemplary leadership is enhancing sustainability within the food and beverage industry.

The list offers logistics professionals a guide to the providers, manufacturers, and software and technology companies that have found new ways to promote sustainability throughout their operations and those of their customers. Ryder’s inclusion on the list reflects the Company’s leadership in providing thousands of food and beverage companies – including the top 10 U.S. food and beverage companies according to FORTUNE – with a full menu of services including green transportation and logistics solutions to help them meet their sustainability goals.

“This latest recognition reinforces Ryder’s ongoing commitment to assist companies by engineering and operating their supply chains with lower costs, improved transportation efficiencies and reduce environmental impact,” said Ryder President of Global Fleet Management Solutions, Dennis Cooke.

Ryder is also the leader in natural gas vehicle solutions for the commercial transportation industry, with more than 90 million miles of experience, 21 NGV maintenance facilities, and more than 5,500 NGV-trained maintenance and support personnel. The Company also operates LCNG fuel stations at its Fontana and Orange, Calififornia service locations where Ryder has partnered with Clean Energy Fuels to offer RNG, the cleanest fuel available today.

 

Optimum Awarded Patent for Type 4 Boss Cylinder

July 7, 2016

Optimum Composite Technologies was recently awarded its patent for the Type 4 Boss from the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The company is working on certifying a type 4 CNG tank using this technology and plans on having one ready for market by the start of 2017.

Optimum has been using this technology for several years on products ranging from their small cylinders used for R&D Testing to high pressure Hydrogen tanks. The polar boss can withstand pressures beyond 25,000 psi.

“Having a reliable leak free polar boss is one of the major obstacles in designing a successful type 4 cylinder,” commented Chief Technical Officer Mike Olson. “We feel extremely confident in and have proven its reliability.”

 

NGVi Launches CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification Program

June 8, 2016

Natural Gas Vehicle Institute (NGVi) announced the launch of its CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification program. Designed according to the requirements for professional certification programs prescribed by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), NGVi’s CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification provides an independent assessment to ensure technicians possess the knowledge, skills and specific competencies required to conduct CNG fuel system inspections according to all federal codes and standards, as well as industry best practices. The certification period is five years. Registration is now open, and the program kicks off with the first certification exam September 16, 2016 in Denver, Colorado.

CNG fuel system inspections are one of the main factors affecting NGV fleet and dealership safety, and regular inspections of all CNG cylinders are required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 304. In addition, NGV industry best practices recommend inspection of the entire fuel system. These inspections must be performed by qualified CNG fuel system inspectors and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and Compressed Gas Association (CGA) pamphlet C-6.4.

“We are excited to offer CNG Fuel System Inspector Certification to NGV technicians,” said Leo Thomason, Executive Director of NGVi. “While there is no national requirement that CNG Fuel System Inspectors be certified, certification offers that extra layer of assurance and risk mitigation in the operation and maintenance of any CNG-powered vehicles.”

NGVi’s CNG Fuel System Inspector program was developed and will be administered independently from its training programs, and there is no training prerequisite for technicians who seek certification. To ensure quality, uniformity and impartiality, the certification program is overseen by an independent Advisory Board comprised of CNG cylinder, fuel system and vehicle manufacturers, as well as end users. The Advisory Board includes representatives from Hexagon Lincoln, Worthington Industries, Agility Fuel Systems, Penske Truck Leasing, Waste Management, UPS, and Volvo.

The certification exam will be offered live at various locations throughout the country, as well as via an online, electronically-proctored exam that can be scheduled individually and taken at a time convenient to the participant.

For more information about NGVi’s CNG Fuel System Certification, click here.

 

Hexagon Composites to Supply CNG Cylinders for Vehicle Conversions in Indonesia

July 6, 2016

Hexagon Composites’ subsidiary Hexagon Raufoss has received an order from PT Autogas in Indonesia for 1,000 cylinders that will be used to convert taxis and government vehicles to run on CNG. The majority of the deliveries will be made in the third quarter of 2016.

Indonesia is quickly adopting CNG as an alternative to diesel and gasoline as a result of a government oil-to-gas campaign. The program’s goal is to reduce pollution and diversify fuel in the public transportation sector.

PT Autogas is the country’s leading conversion company for heavy duty vehicles, transit buses and passenger cars. The company says Hexagon Composites’ cylinders were chosen for these applications because they are 30 percent the weight of steel, which reduces fuel consumption and extends range between refueling.

PT Autogas is owned by PT Draco, which took delivery of SMARTSTORE modules earlier this year to support its mobile refilling units (MRU) used around the city of Jakarta. “Passenger cars with Hexagon Composites cylinders may refuel with MRUs that use SMARTSTORE gas transportation systems,” says Ragnar Holthe, Managing Director Automotive, Hexagon Raufoss. “We are committed to the momentum that environmental friendly fuels are experiencing in Southeast Asia and are pleased that our CNG solutions are helping reduce pollution in Indonesia.”

 

La Poste and ENGIE Partner to Develop Green Mobility in France

July 7, 2016

La Poste Group and ENGIE will be cooperating to design refueling solutions for La Poste fleets operating on natural gas and renewable natural gas (RNG). A cooperation agreement has been signed to develop various eco-mobility projects, in particular through the use of NGVs, an alternative fuel with recognized environmental and economic advantages, as well as hydrogen vehicles. The objective for La Poste Group is to establish its leadership in sustainable mobility by prioritizing large-scale use of low CO2 fuel emission vehicles, making a significant contribution to reducing air and noise pollution in cities. The agreement also establishes conditions necessary for the development of RNG.

For the past year, La Poste Group is also involved in developing NGVs for use throughout France. The Group has already deployed 40 light vans used to make last-mile express package deliveries and will have a hundred in circulation by the end of the year.