NGVAmerica News Week in Review: October 17, 2016

• NGVAmerica Presents Achievement Award to FedEx at Clean Energy Station Opening
• Cummins Westport Begins Production of ISL G Near Zero Natural Gas Engine
• Nova Bus Receives Order for 425 CNG Buses from San Antonio Transit Agency
• San Diego Transit Agency Opens $38 Million Bus Facility to House CNG Buses
• CNG 4 America Opens CNG Station in Texas
• Kenworth Adds CWI ISL G Near Zero Emissions Natural Gas Engine to Options
• Adsorbed Natural Gas Products Receives Patent for NGV Innovation
• NuBlu Energy Begins Construction of LNG Plant in Louisiana

NGVAmerica Presents Achievement Award to FedEx at Clean Energy Station Opening

October 11, 2016

The leaders of FedEx, Clean Energy Fuels and the State of Oklahoma cut a ribbon to officially open a CNG station that will allow over 100 FedEx Freight Class 8 trucks to use the convenience of fast-fueling as well as the savings of time-fueling. Clean Energy also announced that it expects to supply the station with its Redeem RNG vehicle fuel in the near future.

To kick off the event, NGVAmerica President Matt Godlewski presented the annual NGV Achievement Award to Michael Ducker, president and CEO of FedEx Freight, for his company’s leadership in alternative fuel transportation.

“It was an honor for NGVAmerica to be at such an important event to recognize Mike Ducker and FedEx Freight for their commitment to natural gas fueling,” said Matthew Godlewski, President of NGVAmerica. “As we continue to advocate for the industry to legislators in Washington and businesses around the nation, it’s important that we can point to transportation service providers like FedEx Freight as an example of leadership when it comes to reducing GHG emissions.”

FedEx purchased more than 100 CNG powered tractors and contracted Clean Energy to design build and maintain the station. The FedEx Freight facility includes a four-lane, fast-fill station as well as a time-fill station which has six zones and 18 hoses. The fueling station is estimated to dispense approximately 2.5 million GGEs per year, and uses Clean Energy’s new CleanCNG compressors.

Godlewski was joined by other leaders of the NGV industry at the new FedEx Freight Oklahoma City Service Center ribbon-cutting, including Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, FedEx chairman and CEO Fred Smith, Clean Energy co-founder Boone Pickens, and Clean Energy president and CEO Andrew Littlefair, as well as many other federal, state and local and industry officials.

Cummins Westport Begins Production of ISL G Near Zero Natural Gas Engine

October 13, 2016

Cummins Westport (CWI) announced that orders are being processed and production of the ISL G Near Zero (NZ) NOx natural gas engine has started. The ISL G NZ is the first midrange engine in North America to receive emission certification from both U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet the optional 0.02 g/bhp-hr. Near Zero NOx Emissions standards eight years in advance of the 2023 California Near Zero NOx schedule and contributing to California Clean Air initiatives.

Exhaust emissions of the ISL G NZ are 90 percent lower than the current EPA and ARB NOx limit of 0.2 g/bhp-hr. and also meet the 2017 EPA greenhouse gas (GHG) emission requirements. CWI natural gas engines have met the 2010 EPA standard for particulate matter (0.01 g/bhp-hr.) since 2001.

“The start of production of the ISL G Near Zero natural gas engine offers a game-changing solution for the reduction of urban tailpipe and engine related emissions,” said Rob Neitzke, President of Cummins Westport. “Combined with the reliability and operating improvements on the base ISL G engine, the ISL G Near Zero is now at the forefront of cost-effective and dependable emission reduction strategies in transit, medium-duty truck and refuse applications.”

The ISL G NZ can operate on CNG or LNG, and operating ISL G NZ engines on RNG offers a significant GHG emissions benefit compared to fossil fuels. In addition to the dramatic reduction in NOx, the ISL G NZ will feature Closed Crankcase Ventilation, reducing engine related GHG methane emissions by 70 percent.

Leveraging the technology improvements of the ISL G, the ISL G NZ offers customers the benefit of improved reliability and durability as well as range and performance with the lowest emissions, utilizing maintenance-free Three-Way Catalyst (TWC) aftertreatment. TWCs are effective, simple, passive devices, packaged as part of the muffler. Cummins Westport natural gas engines do not require active after-treatment such as a Diesel Particulate Filter or Selective Catalytic Reduction.

The ISL G NZ is manufactured at the Cummins Engine Plant in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Backed by a Cummins Factory Warranty and supported by Cummins Service Network, the ISL G NZ offers low emission performance and efficiency with engine ratings from 250-320 horsepower, and 660-1,000 lb-ft torque available.

The ISL G NZ engine is available as a first fit engine with transit, shuttle and school bus, refuse and truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), or as an engine replacement (repower) for existing ISL G vehicles.

Nova Bus Receives Order for 425 CNG Buses from San Antonio Transit Agency

October 11, 2016

Nova Bus received an order for 425 40 ft. CNG buses from VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, Texas. The buses will be manufactured in Plattsburgh, New York, and delivery will begin at the end of November 2016. The new buses will support VIA’s ongoing all-CNG fleet conversion.

“This is another milestone in our history of partnership for excellence in public transportation in Texas using vehicles that will help these progressive cities meet their sustainability objectives,” said President of Nova Bus Raymond Leduc said.

The Nova Bus CNG buses are the company’s greenest ever, and they say the vehicles define a new generation of natural gas-powered buses with substantial fuel savings. In 2016, VIA became the only public transit agency in the Southwestern US to earn certification from the International Standards Organization (ISO) for its proactive efforts to provide sustainable service through its Environmental and Sustainability Management System (ESMS).

San Diego Transit Agency Opens $38 Million Bus Facility to House CNG Buses

October 12, 2016

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) celebrated the grand opening of the East County Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility, furthering the agency’s role in improving regional air quality. The facility, which was built to LEED Silver standards, will be home to 120 clean-burning CNG buses.

“MTS is focused on improving all facets of our business to improve efficiency, reliability, passenger amenities and the air we breathe,” said MTS Chief Executive Officer Paul Jablonski.  “The new East County Bus Operations & Maintenance Facility helps us achieve all those goals.”

A new CNG fueling station on site will allow MTS to replace diesel-fueled buses with CNG-fueled buses, which provide significant emission benefits. The 34,500 sq. ft. maintenance building sits on 5.5 acres in the City of El Cajon. It was built at a cost of $38 million from MTS funds, a Federal Transit Administration competitive grant secured by MTS, Transit Development Act, and State Transit Assistance Program funds.

CNG 4 America Opens CNG Station in Texas

October 10, 2016
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CNG 4 America has opened its latest fast-fill CNG station at its location in Baytown, Texas. Located at the new I-10 Travel Plaza, the station features four new lanes to fuel on two dual-sided CNG fast fill dispensers. This CNG fueling facility will serve local, regional, and dedicated fleets serving the major distribution centers located at Cedar Crossing and AmeriPort.

CNG 4 America is building CNG fueling stations throughout Texas and expanding to Louisiana, Colorado, the Midwest and other locations selected by our fleet customers.  The Baytown facility will be the fifth station in Texas.

Kenworth Adds CWI ISL G Near Zero Emissions Natural Gas Engine to Options

October 10, 2016

Kenworth announced that it will offer the Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero NOx emissions natural gas engine for the Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks. Emissions from the ISL G Near Zero natural gas engine are 90 percent lower than the current NOx limit of 0.2 gram per brake horsepower-hour, and meet the 2017 EPA greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements. The new engine achieves this reduction through the introduction of advanced engine calibration, a unique maintenance-free, three-way catalyst after-treatment system, and a closed crankcase ventilation system.

“The Kenworth T680 and T880 equipped with the ISL G Near Zero emissions engine is well suited for regional haul, vocational and refuse fleets focused the reduced environmental impact of natural gas use and reducing their operating costs,” said Jason Skoog, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.

The 8.9-liter Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero comes with ratings up to 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. The engine can operate on 100 percent natural gas, which can be carried on the vehicle as either CNG or LNG. The new ISL G Near Zero is also compatible with RNG, which allows for even further reductions in GHG emissions.

The new engine will become available in the Kenworth T680 and T880 in early 2017.

Adsorbed Natural Gas Products Receives Patent for NGV Innovation

October 12, 2016

Adsorbed Natural Gas Products (ANGP) announced it has received from the US Patent and Trademark Office a Notice of Allowance for its Sorbent Based Low Pressure Gaseous Delivery System, which ANGP refers to as its Fuel Extraction Pressurization System (FEPS). The formal issuance of the patent is expected over the next 8 to 12 weeks.

The patent covers the embodiment of the ANGP FEPS in an isolation circuit designed to operate only when the gaseous storage tank on a vehicle drops below a specified pressure.  This embodiment allows for increased energy efficiency of the ANGP adsorbed natural gas (ANG) based storage system in conjunction with the vehicle’s fuel injection and electrical systems.

ANGP’s isolation circuit triggered FEPS is best suited for high horse power applications requiring energy density flow at pressures in excess of 100 psi.  ANGP’s low pressure storage systems designed for light duty vehicles no longer require the use of the FEPS due to the high release rate of natural gas from the ANGP system technology.

NuBlu Energy Begins Construction of LNG Plant in Louisiana

October 11, 2016

NuBlu Energy announced that it has begun the construction of a natural gas liquefaction plant in Port Allen, Louisiana. Strategically located along the Mississippi River, NuBlu’s flagship facility will support the region’s high-horsepower fueling applications such as rail, marine, long haul transportation, power generation, gas interruption, asphalt and other energy markets.  The facility is slated to be operational and producing LNG in the second quarter of 2017.

Utilizing NuBlu’s patented technology, the first phase of the Port Allen facility will be capable of producing 30,000 gallons per day of LNG and will feature a storage capacity of 100,000 gallons.  he facility will also employ a transfer system that will allow the loading of both LNG transport trailers as well as ISO containers. Total planned capacity of the facility is 90,000 gallons per day.

“Our site selection process was intense,” said Josh Payne, General Partner, NuBlu Energy. “We wanted to be positioned to meet the demands of the emerging marine market for both brown water and blue water fueling and we absolutely believe we have achieved that goal.”