NGVAmerica News Week in Review: October 2, 2017

• City of Phoenix Exercises Option for 30 More CNG Buses with New Flyer
• Ameren Illinois Unveils CNG Refueling Station and Trucks
• AMP Americas RNG Operation Scores Low Carbon Intensity Score, New COO Named
• Cenergy Solutions Holds ANG Training Seminar for US and Mexico Distributors
• Volvo Touts LNG as Best Available Alternative Fuel for Climate
• Hyundai Heavy Industries to Build 10 LNG-Ready Vessels

City of Phoenix Exercises Option for 30 More CNG Buses with New Flyer

September 27, 2017

The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department has exercised an option with New Flyer for thirty more Xcelsior buses powered by clean-burning CNG. The order consists of 16 forty-foot heavy duty transit buses, and 14 sixty-foot heavy duty transit buses, which will be converted from New Flyer’s backlog to a firm order.

The option is part of a contract approved in November 2014, and will be deployed on City of Phoenix commuter (RAPID) routes starting 2018.

“Following a recent award to the City of Phoenix, New Flyer is proud to again support expansion of the City’s fleet with low-emission buses as it pursues its Transportation 2050 plan,” stated Wayne Joseph, President of New Flyer of America. “We are dedicated to supporting growth of Phoenix bus ridership with sustainable solutions that help connect communities.”

The City of Phoenix Public Transit Department provides Phoenix residents a variety of transit options and is the largest member of the Valley Metro regional transit system, delivering more than 34 million bus trips per year in the City of Phoenix.

Ameren Illinois Unveils CNG Refueling Station and Trucks

September 28, 2017

Ameren Illinois, a gas and electric company based in Collinsville, Illinois, unveiled its new CNG refueling station in Maryville, along with seven new trucks that run on the alternative fuel, illustrating the company’s commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

The CNG station, located next to Ameren Illinois’ operating center, is used by Ameren Illinois to refuel its trucks that run on CNG. The facility also provides fuel to CNG trailers used by Ameren Illinois for emergency response operations and system maintenance.

The new CNG-powered trucks on display at the unveiling event included six Ford F-350s that run on both gasoline and CNG, as well as a gas compressor truck that runs on CNG only.

On average, Ameren Illinois vehicles fueled by natural gas can drive 200 to 400 miles before refueling, reducing fuel costs by about $2 per gallon compared to diesel. Ameren Illinois says the deployment of CNG vehicles is expected to save the company approximately $1,000 to $2,000 per vehicle in annual fuel costs.

This year, the company committed five percent of its vehicle replacement budget to investments in alternative fuel technologies, such as natural gas, biodiesel and electric. Ameren Illinois currently operates a total of nine CNG trucks.

“By investing in CNG technology, we’re reducing carbon emissions and protecting our environment,” said Richard J. Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois. “We are proud of our investment in alternative fuels, especially natural gas, which is abundant, affordable and sourced entirely from the United States.”

AMP Americas RNG Operation Scores Low Carbon Intensity Score, New COO Named

September 27, 2017

AMP Americas announced that its RNG operation at Fair Oaks Farms in Indiana has received the first dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel pathway certified by California’s Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB awarded the company a Carbon Intensity (CI) score of -254.94 gCO₂e/MJ, which is the lowest ever issued by CARB.

AMP Americas’ first project at Fair Oaks Farms has been in action since 2011 and produces over 1.5 million gallons of 100 percent renewable transportation fuel from dairy waste every year. The project was also the first, and to-date only, U.S. EPA Renewable Fuel Standard-certified dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel project in the U.S. It is the first of its kind in California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program. Fuels that emit more carbon have higher scores. Diesel registers +98 and California electric is +35. Fair Oaks’ -255 CI makes trucks using its fuel far cleaner than electric vehicles.

AMP Americas also announced that it has opened an office in Los Angeles and has named Martin Gilkes COO. Gilkes will lead the AMP Americas team, head up the company’s California office, and will work with policy makers and industry colleagues to shape state and federal clean transportation policy. The new office will allow AMP Americas to better serve its expanding customer base in California.

“AMP Americas is leading the way in comprehensive renewable fueling for heavy trucks, and I am excited to join this talented team and help realize the massive opportunity in front of us,” said Martin Gilkes, COO at AMP Americas.

AMP Americas’ Renewable Dairy Fuels (RDF) is investing heavily in dairy RNG projects and partnering with dairy farmers across the country. RDF’s investments will bring more ultra-low CI gas to market and will help solve major air quality and climate challenges. Construction is currently underway for the company’s second RNG project using dairy digester gas. RDF plans to more than double its dairy gas output by early 2018 and aims to deliver 100 percent RNG to all 20 of its fueling stations as it brings on future projects.

Cenergy Solutions Holds ANG Training Seminar for US and Mexico Distributors

September 25, 2017

Cenergy Solutions recently completed their first Adsorbent Natural Gas (ANG) training class. The class was attended by 12 of Cenergy Solutions new distributors and soon to be distributors, five manufacturing representatives from the US and two International companies. This ANG training class covered the advantages of using low pressure ANG systems in natural gas vehicles, conformable ANG tanks, Cenergy Solutions ANG at home or business fueling compressors, safety practices and other topics relating to ANG and biogas systems in the US and Mexico.

Cenergy Solution’s mission is to bring ANG products to market to reduce the cost of operating vehicles with a clean alternative fuel. The free ANG training classes help to bring Cenergy’s Distributors and Strategic Business Partners up to speed on the technology.

The next free training class will be held on October 19 and 20 at Cenergy Solutions training center in Ft. Smith Arkansas. If you are interested in the training, contact Terri Defalco at terrid@cenergysolutions.com. Space is limited and there are already several businesses from the US and International companies scheduling to attend the October training.

Volvo Touts LNG as Best Available Alternative Fuel for Climate

September 26, 2017

In response to a proposed regulation in the European Union, Volvo Trucks has said “Liquefied gas is the best available climate alternative on the market for heavy regional and long-haul transport operations.”

Reducing climate-impacting emissions from heavy commercial traffic is a challenge that engages politicians and transport purchasers, haulage companies and vehicle manufacturers. In May the EU presented a regulation demanding declaration of CO2 figures from heavy vehicles as of 2019, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions.

“This regulation will drive the development of lower emissions, where we see a clear possibility for increasing LNG market shares as a vital part of the solution,” said Lars Mårtensson, Director Environment and Innovation at Volvo Trucks. “Our vision is that trucks from Volvo will eventually have zero emissions, although the way of achieving that is not by one single solution but rather through several solutions in parallel.”

Volvo says natural gas can produce 20 percent lower CO2 emissions than diesel, and if RNG is used instead, the climate impact can be cut by up to 100 percent. While biogas is thus far only produced in limited quantities, the long-term availability of natural gas is excellent in a global perspective. This is an important condition for large-scale expansion, as is a competitive price.

In many European countries, natural gas costs less than diesel. Volvo says a strategy for expanding LNG infrastructure is also included in the European Commission’s and member states’ action packages for securing Europe’s long-term energy supply.

“All told, this makes liquefied gas the best widely available climate alternative on the market for long and heavy transports,” said Lars Mårtensson.

Hyundai Heavy Industries to Build 10 LNG-Ready Vessels

September 29, 2017

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder, signed an $800 million contract to build ten LNG-ready Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOCs) with Polaris Shipping. The contract is the largest single order received by the company in the last five years.

The ships, measuring more than 1,100 feet in length and 200 feet wide, will be designed as eco-friendly ships applying LNG Ready design to meet environmental regulations and reduce fuel consumption. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered by 2021.