NGVAmerica News Week in Review: March 26, 2018

• Columbus Expands Low-Emission Fleet with up to 154 CNG Buses from New Flyer
• NGVAmerica to Participate in Upcoming ACT News Webinar
• DART Expands Low-Emission Fleet in Dallas with up to 82 CNG Buses from New Flyer
• CSA Group Publishes Three Standards for Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Fueling
• BC Transit Reduces Carbon Footprint with Another CNG Bus Order from New Flyer
• AFDC’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator Receives Major Makeover
• VIA Recognized by Texas Transit Association for Natural Gas Fleet Conversion
• Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Signs Renewable Natural Gas Bill into Law

Columbus Expands Low-Emission Fleet with up to 154 CNG Buses from New Flyer

March 22, 2018

The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) has awarded New Flyer a new contract for 154 Xcelsior CNG-powered forty-foot, heavy duty transit buses over the next five years. The contract includes 28 firm orders with options to purchase an additional 126 transit buses to replace end-of-life vehicles with more efficient CNG buses. The purchase was supported by local, state, and Federal Transit Administration funding.

“New Flyer is proud to support the Central Ohio Transit Authority with expanding its low-emission bus fleet in pursuit of sustainable and connected transportation,” said Wayne Joseph, President, New Flyer of America. “COTA has proven itself a visionary in the development of future mobility, and we are thrilled to participate in defining the cities of the future alongside the growing community of greater Columbus and central Ohio, and the talent in transportation and technology in the region.”

The Central Ohio Transit Authority serves greater Columbus and central Ohio, covering 1.2 million residents and providing more than 18 million passenger trips annually. In 2013, COTA made the commitment to move its entire fleet to CNG within 12 years, and in 2017 introduced its newly redesigned route network featuring more frequent service, and better connections to more destinations, seven days a week. In 2018, COTA introduced CMAX, Central Ohio’s first Bus Rapid Transit line, and is investing in infrastructure and technology upgrades to improve transit service and the customer experience.

In 2018, New Flyer committed to leading collaboration, cooperation, and the technological advancement of Smart Mobility in North America. It also became a signatory of the Shared Mobility Principles for Livable Cities, which facilitates collaboration in developing multimodal, integrated cities through technology-driven innovation.

 

NGVAmerica to Participate in Upcoming ACT News Webinar

March 26, 2018

NGVAmerica will join ACT News for a complimentary webinar, “Natural Gas Trucks: 5 Things You Should Know,” on April 4 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The webinar, sponsored by Quantum Fuel Systems, will provide fleet operators with an introductory overview on how natural gas provides a low-cost and low-emission fueling option.

The webinar will provide an introduction on the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas trucks. Today’s ultra-low emission natural gas engines and advanced fuel storage systems offer fleet operators an effective means to immediately and cost effectively reduce operating costs and environmental impact. Participate in this webinar to gain insight into:

• Average lifetime NOx reductions compared to diesel and electric trucks
• Why natural gas offers long-term price stability compared to diesel
• Available funding programs that can offset purchase costs
• How fleets can monetize the low-carbon value of renewable natural gas (RNG)
• Which OEMs have commercially available products

Speakers include Daniel Gage, President of NGVAmerica; Dan Bowerson, Director, Technology & Development, NGVAmerica; Hernan Henriquez, Executive Director, Quantum Fuel Systems; Joe Annotti, Senior Programs Manager, GNA.

Learn more about and register for the free webinar here.

 

DART Expands Low-Emission Fleet in Dallas with up to 82 CNG Buses from New Flyer

March 19, 2018

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) has awarded New Flyer a contract for 82 Xcelsior CNG-powered forty-foot, heavy duty transit buses. The contract, which supports new services beginning in Spring 2019, includes 41 firm orders with options to purchase an additional 41 buses powered by the cleaner-burning fuel. The buses were funded by grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

These buses increase DART’s 639 clean, low-emission CNG buses, aiding DART’s mission to operate a safe, efficient and effective transportation. This order is part of a plan to reduce current fleet NOx emissions by 90 percent over conventional diesel-powered vehicles.

“New Flyer is pleased to support Dallas Area Rapid Transit as its develops a dependable, low-emission transit fleet with the environment in mind,” said Wayne Joseph, President, New Flyer of America. “As a founding member of the North Texas Clean Air Coalition, we commend DART for leading by example, improving service while reducing the carbon footprint of northern Texas, and building a more sustainable environment for the surrounding community.”

DART serves over 67 million passenger trips per year in 13 cities total, a combined area of 700 square miles.

 

CSA Group Publishes Three Standards for Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle Fueling

March 26, 2018

CSA Group has published three standards that aim to advance the safety of natural gas vehicle fueling.  CSA NGV 4.3 – Guideline for Temperature Compensation for Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle (CNG) Fueling is the first-ever standard published to address fueling at extreme temperatures and provides guidance on proper temperature compensation. The bi-national standard addresses the minimum requirements for temperature compensation control used to prevent CNG dispensing systems currently installed in the field from exceeding a safe fill level of vehicle fuel storage containers. This development creates the opportunity for CNG vehicle and station operators, as well as dispenser manufacturers, to demonstrate that existing dispensing equipment complies with a published standard.

“This standard represents an advancement for the industry to now have guidance for verifying the performance of temperature compensation controls used in dispensing systems to prevent exceeding a safe fill level into compressed natural gas vehicle storage containers,” said Tony Lindsay, Director of Research and Development for Gas Technology Institute and Chair of CSA Group’s NGV 4.3 Task Force. “The standard is the result of contributions from a broad representation of the NGV industry and much hard work from CSA Committee members.”

CSA/ANSI NGV 4.1 – Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Dispensing Systems has been updated to include new CNG fueling technology used to dispense fuel directly into the vehicle’s on-board fuel storage container.

“Alternative energy sources like compressed natural gas allow a long-term future in energy production,” said says Dev Patel, Director of Business Development at Kraus Global Ltd., and Chair of the NGV 4.1 and 4.3 Technical Subcommittees. The publication of these standards will help ensure safe natural gas fueling. We would like to thank our dedicated team members for their continued hard work in creating thorough documents that will greatly benefit the safety of our industry.”

Lastly, CSA/ANSI NGV 5.2 – Vehicle Fueling Appliances (VFA) includes requirements for non-residential fueling appliances that incorporate compression and dispensing into a self-contained appliance, dispense directly into onboard vehicle storage, or deliver to external natural gas storage systems. A VFA is intended for private use in private commercial settings, such as fleet operations. The general public does not have access to VFAs. An NGV 4.1 dispenser is a device or system dedicated to dispensing fuel into vehicles and can be accessed by the general public.

The first edition of CSA/ANSI NGV 5.2 (re-designated as from CSA 12.6) contains updated coverage to remove overlapping or conflicting requirements with ANSI/CSA NGV 5.1 – Residential Fueling Appliances.

These standards complement CSA Group’s existing natural gas vehicle fueling series of standards. CSA Group and its members will remain active in the area of natural gas fueling infrastructure, including working to have the above standards referenced in the appropriate U.S. and Canadian codes, such as NFPA 52 and CSA B108.

Visit CSA group’s online store to purchase a copy of CSA/ANSI NGV 5.2-2017, CSA/ANSI NGV 4.1-2018, and CSA NGV 4.3-2018.

For information regarding participation on CSA Group’s standards development activities for natural gas vehicles, please contact Julie Cairns, julie.cairns@csagroup.org. For testing and certification questions related to compressed natural gas dispensers and components, please contact Trevor Perera, trevor.perera@csagroup.org.

 

BC Transit Reduces Carbon Footprint with Another CNG Bus Order from New Flyer

March 16, 2018

BC Transit has awarded New Flyer a contract for eight Xcelsior CNG-powered forty-foot, heavy duty transit buses, which will be converted from New Flyer’s option backlog to the firm order backlog.

“New Flyer is proud to provide BC Transit with an environmentally sustainable, low-emission transit solution as they seek to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of transit throughout the province,” said Jennifer McNeill, Vice President of Sales and Business Development, New Flyer. “We are delighted to work with BC Transit on low-emission solutions, incorporating the newest in CNG technology and featuring Canadian innovation in motion on BC roads.”

BC Transit connects over 52.3 million customers in partnership with 59 local governments across 130 communities in the British Columbia province every year.

 

AFDC’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator Receives Major Makeover

March 19, 2018

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) Station Locator has undergone a major makeover. Constant improvement is at the site’s core, which is why the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technology Office is always striving to make the AFDC’s tools easier to use and the data more accessible. The updated Station Locator offers new features and an improved user interface built on the same reliable, comprehensive, and fuel-neutral data that our partners have come to trust.

Some of the notable new features include a sleek look and feel, simplifying the user experience, as well as a bigger map populated with consistent circle icons for each station location and updated colors representing each fuel type. Users will also notice a larger and more detailed view of specific station information.

On the Station Locator home page, there are now two tabs at the top of the map: Find Public Stations and Analyze and Download Data.

The Find Public Stations tab allows users to search for public stations at a specific location, with the option to search for all fuels or just one. The total number of stations that fit the search criteria can be found in the upper right.

The Map a Route feature, also available on the Find Public Station tab, shows specified fuel types available along a route between two locations. It also displays search results on the right, sorted by distance from the search location.

The Analyze and Download Data tab allows users to refine their search using filters, broken out into three categories: Location, Fuel, and Station.

To search by Location, users can enter a state or a specific address and limit results within a certain mile radius. To search by Fuel, users can filter by a single fuel or multiple fuel types, and conduct fuel-specific searches.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) collects and confirms alternative fueling station data through a number of industry sources. To submit a new station for inclusion in the Station Locator, visit the online webform. For multiple station additions or updates, email technicalresponse@icf.com.

The new Station Locator still includes an embed functionality so users can include the tool within their own websites. If you already have the Station Locator embedded on your website, replacing the code with the new version of the embed code is recommended.

 

VIA Recognized by Texas Transit Association for Natural Gas Fleet Conversion

March 23, 2018

VIA Metropolitan Transit was recently recognized by the Texas Transit Association (TTA) as the Outstanding Metropolitan Transit System in Texas for 2018 and received the TTA’s Transit Innovation Award at the Association’s annual conference in San Antonio.

TTA recognized VIA for its work in 2017 to transform the region’s public transportation system by designing and implementing programs and services that demonstrate innovation, show effective problem solving, and integrate technology.

The awards were given in part for converting its fleet to operate on cleaner-burning natural gas. VIA introduced the first of its new CNG buses in the spring of 2017, and half the fleet was converted by the end of 2017. VIA plans to have converted its entire fleet by 2020.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the Texas Transit Association for our work in transit innovation and, most importantly, for the work we do each day to connect our region, expand access to opportunity, and move the people of our community,” said VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt.

The mission of the Texas Transit Association is to support the needs of Texas public transportation systems through statewide advocacy and education. TTA actively supports public transportation in the State of Texas and works with members of the state legislature in the pursuit of additional resources.

 

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee Signs Renewable Natural Gas Bill into Law

March 22, 2018

Washington Governor Jay Inslee officially signed into law a bill that will encourage the increased production of renewable natural gas (RNG) as an energy source for Washington State. HB 2580 passed the Legislature earlier this month. Nearly unanimous legislative backing for the bill signals strong interest in and support for further development and adoption of this renewable energy resource.

Biogas is currently collected at landfills, waste water treatment plants and some agricultural operations, where it is either burned to generate electricity or simply flared. HB 2580 will encourage RNG expansion through tax incentives and a suite of other tools including an inventory of potential RNG supply and associated costs; voluntary gas quality standards for injecting RNG into the natural gas system, and additional policy recommendations to promote RNG development.

The Northwest Gas Association (NWGA) supported the Governor’s signing of HB 2580.

“The Northwest Gas Association (NWGA) thanks Governor Inslee for seeking this important measure, and Rep. Jeff Morrisfor being its champion through the legislative process,” said NWGA Executive Director, Dan Kirschner. “NWGA members look forward to supplying this clean, green energy resource to consumers across the Northwest via the region’s safe and reliable natural gas delivery system.”