NGVAmerica News Week in Review: October 23, 2017

• Clean Energy Fuels Breaks Ground on First CNG Fueling Station in the Bronx
• NGVAmerica Update on Available Funding and Business Opportunities
• Omaha Transit Authority to Purchase New CNG MOBY Buses
• Greenkraft Earns CARB Certification for Alternative Fuel Engine
• Landi Renzo Ford Natural Gas Vehicle Platforms Certified by CARB
• Alkane Trucks Signs New Certified Assembler and Authorized Dealer
• European Manufacturer to Deliver 500 Natural Gas Trucks
• Wärtsilä to Supply Dual-Fuel Engines to Power Four New LNG Carriers

Clean Energy Fuels Breaks Ground on First CNG Fueling Station in the Bronx

October 18, 2017

Clean Energy Fuels, the City of New York, and community leaders broke ground on a new CNG station in the Hunts Point section of the Bronx that will fuel multiple fleets operating across the city.

Joining Clean Energy at the ceremony were Department of Transportation (DOT) Bronx Borough Commissioner Nivardo Lopez, Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Deputy Commissioner Rocky DiRico, and representatives from several fleets that will use the station once it opens in 2018.

The use of natural gas fuel, produced domestically in North America, reduces greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by up to 21 percent versus diesel and gasoline. Using natural gas is one of the ways New York City can meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent the next few decades.

“DOT is proud to be part of this unique groundbreaking, which will benefit the Hunts Point community and all of New York City,”said Nivardo Lopez, Bronx Borough Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. “From our Clean Trucks program which reduces pollution to energy efficient goals laid out in our Strategic Plan, we look forward to participating in ways to make our city as green as possible.”

DSNY currently operates collection trucks and street sweepers with CNG and calculates its GHG reductions at an estimated 450 metric tons. Also committing to take advantage of the new fueling station when it opens next year is Hunts Point staple Baldor Specialty Foods, whose company culture includes sustainable initiatives such as the use of alternative fuels to power their fleet.

“We have been committed to employing alternative fuels to both control costs and protect the environment,” said Steve Tufo, Transportation Manager at Baldor Specialty Foods. “Our headquarters are here in Hunts Point, our families live in Hunts Point, so we have a responsibility to keep our neighborhoods as clean as possible, and we do that with natural gas.”

Clean Energy Fuel continues to promote the use of CNG across New York City, including the addition of the JFK multi-fuel travel plaza at Kennedy Airport, New York City’s only travel plaza for motorists.

“There are currently thousands of vehicles from refuse trucks to shuttles to gourmet food delivery trucks that operate on natural gas, and the air over New York is cleaner because of it,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, President and CEO of Clean Energy. “This new station in the Bronx will allow more fleets, both public and private, to realize the economic and environmental benefits of fueling with natural gas.”

 

NGVAmerica Update on Available Funding and Business Opportunities

October 22, 2017

NGVAmerica tracks available funding and business opportunities that are significant to the NGV industry. Below is information on four current and future opportunities.

Colorado AFV Grant Funding Opportunity

The ALT Fuels Colorado program, which is managed in partnership with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC), Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), recently announced available funding for alternative fuel vehicles. Grant funding for vehicles owned by public or non-profit fleets is:  $7,000 for LDV 6,001 – 10,000 lbs., $25,000 for MDV 10,001 – 26,000 lbs., and $35,000 for HDVs 26,001 and up.  Funding for private fleets is $3,000 for LDVs, $15,000 for MDVs, and $22,000 for HDVs. Applications must be completed and submitted online at the link below. For preparation purposes, a Word formatted application and application guide can also be found below. All applicants must read the ALT Fuels Colorado Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Grant Program Application Guide prior to submitting an application. This guide is intended to lead participants through RAQC’s funding process.

• Online Application
• Word Formatted Application
• Application Guide

Longmont Colorado Biogas Treatment and Vehicle Fueling Station RFP

The City of Longmont, Colorado has decided to construct RNG facilities and convert the Solid Waste fleet from diesel to natural gas to use the RNG produced by the wastewater treatment plant. The City intends to use a Design-Build method to design and construct this project. Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) submitted in response to this request will be reviewed and evaluated as outlined in the SOQ, and a short-list will be selected to prepare and submit a detailed response for the project. The closing date for this funding opportunity is November 2, 2017. More information is available here.

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities CNG Heavy Vehicle Grant Program

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board) has established a CNG heavy vehicle grant program available for trucks that are listed as heavy duty vehicles Class 5 through 8. The $200,000 grant program will fund the incremental cost of a CNG powered vehicle over the equivalent diesel vehicle. Awards will be capped at $20,000 per vehicle and $40,000 per applicant and will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis until funding is exhausted.

Eligibility is limited to Class 5 through 8 trucks registered in the seven counties that the Air Quality Index was previously classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups for ten or more days in 2015 and 2016. These are the counties of Camden, Mercer, Middlesex, Bergen, Gloucester, Hudson, and Ocean Counties.  Eligible applicants for the grant program include municipalities, political subdivisions, incorporated nonprofit entities, corporations and limited liability companies or partnerships registered to do business in New Jersey.

The application window opens no sooner than noon on November 20, 2017, and the window closes noon on December 20, 2017.  Applications should be submitted to BPU.CNGVehicleGrant@BPU.NJ.Gov. The application and related documents are available here.

EPA 2017 School Bus Rebates

The announcement indicates that applications for replacement or retrofit projects must be received by November 14, 2017. A total of $7 million will be provided for this effort. Depending on the size, EPA will provide between $15,000 and $20,000 toward the cost of replacing an older diesel bus with a new cleaner bus. EPA plans to hold a webinar on October 5 to provide more details. The application deadline is November 14, 2017. More information on this funding opportunity is available here.

 

Omaha Transit Authority to Purchase New CNG MOBY Buses

October 23, 2017

The Board of Directors of Metro, the transit authority servicing the City of Omaha, Nebraska, has approved the purchase of nine CNG powered buses for Metro’s paratransit service, MOBY. They will replace current vehicles that have reached their useful life.

MOBY is a shared, curb-to-curb complementary paratransit service operated within the Omaha city limits. It provides transportation for ADA-certified trips within three-fourths of a mile on each side of all fixed routes.

The introduction of CNG-powered vehicles is part of a larger sustainability initiative by Metro to transition to more environmentally-friendly fuel options.  Metro was also recently awarded a competitive federal grant for $2.4 million to help purchase CNG-powered buses to enhance Metro’s fixed route fleet. These vehicles will assist in maintaining air quality and reduce harmful toxins and greenhouse gases, furthering Metro’s commitment to environmental practices and sustainability.

Metro is sourcing these vehicles through a competitively-bid contract through the State of Nebraska, which was awarded to Master’s Transportation on March 23, 2017. The $801,000 purchase is financed with federal matching funds. The FTA’s contribution of $680,850 will be matched by a $100,000 grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust and $20,150 allocation from Metro.

 

Greenkraft Earns CARB Certification for Alternative Fuel Engine

October 19, 2017

Greenkraft, a California-based manufacturer of alternative fuel systems and trucks, announced that its 8L V8 CNG-powered engine received new certification from the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) “On-Road New Vehicle and Engine Certification Program.”

Greenkraft says its 8L V8 fuel-injected engine achieved a NOx emission value less than 0.02 g/bhp-hr, which meets the optional near-zero NOx level set by CARB. This engine is available as either a stand-alone product or can be installed in one of Greenkraft’s 26,000 GVW or 33,000 GVW heavy-duty trucks.

To be certified, a vehicle must demonstrate that its exhaust and evaporative emission controls systems are durable and comply with the emission standards for the vehicle’s useful life. CARB reviews a production vehicle’s durability and compliance with emissions requirements, on-board diagnostics, anti-tampering, fuel tank fill-pipe and openings, crankcase emissions, among other things.

 

Landi Renzo Ford Natural Gas Vehicle Platforms Certified by CARB

October 20, 2017

Landi Renzo announced it has obtained CARB certification for the next model year vehicles (MY2018) and expects certifications to arrive in the first quarter of 2018.

With the addition of the Ford E-350 for MY2018, Landi Renzo continues to expand new products for the shuttle bus market by adding this additional line to its portfolio of EPA and CARB certified products.

Exclusively for the California market, the Ford F-250/350 is offered through Landi Renzo’s Certified Ford Dealer network for Drop Ship directly into its Ford QVM installation facility located in Torrance, California. Nationally, Landi Renzo has both Ship-Thru or Certified Installers options to accommodate our network of dealers and customers.

 

Alkane Trucks Signs New Certified Assembler and Authorized Dealer

October 18, 2017

Alkane Truck Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Harrison Truck Centers to become a Certified Assembler and Authorized Dealer of Alkane’s low-emission alternative fueled trucks. The initial assembly roll-out will include Class 7 Near-Zero natural gas- and Class 8 Near-Zero natural gas-powered trucks.

All of Alkane’s medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks are shipped to Alkane as ‘knock-down’ kits from each component manufacturer; every component is then tested and approved under DOT regulations before being integrated and assembled at an Alkane-certified assembly facility by skilled American workers. This model qualifies Alkane as a U.S. OEM since the domestic value-add content exceeds 51 percent. This designation allows Alkane to issue its own VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers), qualify for government and military contracts, and deliver a profitable and competitively-priced alternative fueled vehicle.

Headquartered in Elk Run Heights, Iowa, Harrison Truck Centers has grown from employ 400 associates and has become a Midwest leader in truck sales and service.  In addition, HTC is one of the top glider kit builders in the US, making it an optimal fit for Alkane’s knock-down assembly operation.

“This new partnership will help ensure that our final DOT testing of our Near-Zero 8.9L and Near-Zero 11.9L natural gas-powered trucks later in the year,” said Robert Smith, Alkane’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer. “Alkane’s clean-burning trucks will provide fleet owners a low-NOx emissions solution, positioning Alkane to take full advantage of the billions of dollars in incentives slated for federal- and state-funded clean air initiatives in 2018.”

 

European Manufacturer to Deliver 500 Natural Gas Trucks

October 20, 2017

IVECO, the commercial vehicles brand of CNH Industrial N.V., has secured the largest deal for its Stralis NP vehicles to date. The agreement signed with Jost Group, one of the leading pan-European transport and logistics companies, calls for the delivery of a fleet of 500 Stralis NP trucks running on LNG.

Amongst the early adopters of this new technology, Jost Group continues its move towards green logistics and sustainable transport, something customers are increasingly demanding. The Group’s goal is to have 35 percent of its fleet running on LNG and is supporting this with an investment in its own LNG refueling infrastructure, with plans to open up to three filling stations within its major operating centers in Belgium.

This order will replace pre-Euro VI diesel-powered vehicles, aged four to five years, in the Belgian firm’s fleet of 1,400 trucks and 3,000 trailers. Presently, Jost Group conducts operations with 132 IVECO Stralis vehicles, including two running on CNG. The first 150 vehicles will enter into operation during 2018, with the full fleet to be in service by 2020.

IVECO was one of the first manufacturers in the commercial transport sector to recognize the potential of natural gas in 1991. This foresight saw the brand develop a full range of natural gas-powered trucks, vans and buses. More than 22,000 IVECO gas-powered vehicles have been sold to date.

 

Wärtsilä to Supply Dual-Fuel Engines to Power Four New LNG Carriers

October 20, 2017

Wärtsilä, through its joint venture company CSSC Wärtsilä Engine Co (CWEC), has been contracted to deliver 16 engines for four new LNG carrier vessels being built at the Hudong Zhonghua shipyard in China. The order was booked in August 2017.

Each of the vessels will be fitted with four Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel generating sets running primarily on LNG fuel to provide the ships with auxiliary power. Their total power output will be 56 MW. The engines will begin to be delivered in the second half of 2018, and the vessels are scheduled to be delivered starting in 2019.

The Wärtsilä 34DF engine features advanced dual-fuel technology, and is known for its efficiency. It is used for both main engine and generating set applications. The Wärtsilä 34DF is manufactured in configurations from 6L to 16V, giving 500 kW per cylinder and a total maximum mechanical output of 8000 kW. The engine speed is 720 / 750 rpm.

The 100^th Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel marine engine was delivered from the factory in 2016.