NGVAmerica News Week in Review: March 21, 2016

 

• UPS Invests Additional $100 Million in Natural Gas Vehicle Projects
• Senator Jim Inhofe Encourages EPA to Include NGVs as Part of VW Settlement
• Matheson Trucking Adds to Green Fleet with 37 New Natural Gas Tractors
• New York Awards New Flyer Contract for 138 CNG Xcelsior Buses
• TruStar Energy to Build and Service 12 Additional CNG Stations for UPS
• San Diego Transit Authority Approves $23 Million for CNG Buses
• Agility Awarded New CNG Fuel Systems Contract from UPS
• Westport Appoints Rodney Nunn to Board of Directors
• Wärtsilä to Support Gas Powered LNG Carriers in Nigeria

 

UPS Invests Additional $100 Million in Natural Gas Vehicle Projects

March 15, 2016

UPS announced plans to build an additional 12 CNG fueling stations and add 380 new CNG tractors to its growing alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The CNG fueling stations and vehicle purchases totaling $100 million are part of UPS’s ongoing commitment to diversify its fuel sources and reduce its environmental impact.

“At UPS, we own our fleet and our infrastructure,” said Mark Wallace, UPS senior vice president global engineering and sustainability. “That allows us to invest for the long-term, rather than planning around near-term fluctuations in fuel pricing.”

UPS is working to meet its goal of logging one billion miles with its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet by the end of 2017.

The 12 new CNG stations will be built by TruStar Energy across Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kansas, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. UPS will be deploying Kenworth tractors to fuel at the new CNG stations, and Agility and Quantum Fuel Systems will provide the CNG storage systems. This investment builds on the UPS’s existing 18 CNG fueling stations across the US.

UPS was one of the initial 13 leading companies to take the Obama Administration’s American Business Act on Climate Pledge, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emission intensity 20 percent by 2020. UPS operates one of the largest private alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S. Its fleet includes more than 6,840 natural gas, other alternative fuel and composite body vehicles.

 

Senator Jim Inhofe Encourages EPA to Include NGVs as Part of VW Settlement

March 21, 2016

NGVAmerica gave its support of a letter written by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy urging the consideration of natural gas vehicles in the remediation efforts for the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal. Inhofe argues NGVs, particularly heavy duty vehicles with low NOx natural gas engines, should be included in EPA’s strategic use of settlement funds.

“NGVAmerica applauds Senator Inhofe’s recognition of the significant emissions benefits provided by clean-burning natural gas vehicles and the cost-effective role that NGV’s could play to remediate excess nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions related to the Volkswagen diesel emissions issue.”

New natural gas engine technologies arriving in the marketplace now could have a significant impact on NOx emissions in areas with the highest pollution problems.  Heavy-duty NGVs with “Near-Zero” engines would complement a balanced settlement between EPA and Volkswagen to offset emissions and improve air quality immediately.

“Senator Inhofe has given the EPA a proven path to significantly remediate the excess diesel emissions caused by Volkswagen,” said Clean Energy CEO Andrew Littlefair. “Only a comprehensive solution including both light duty electric vehicles, and natural gas vehicles in the medium and heavy-duty trucking markets, will be able to correct the damage caused to our environment.”

Volkswagen has until March 24 to provide the court with an explanation as to how it will fix the diesel emissions problem.

 

Matheson Trucking Adds to Green Fleet with 37 New Natural Gas Tractors

Mar 14, 2016

Matheson Trucking has added 25 new CNG and 12 LNG tractors to its fleet as part of a company-wide clean energy expansion program designed to improve air quality, lower greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and to decrease diesel fuel consumption on routes served by the Matheson Postal Services Division.

“With annual fleet distances driven totaling nearly 36 million miles, combining peak and non-peak times, we continue to search for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and GHG emissions to enhance the environment,” said Debra White, vice president, Information Technology and Fleet Maintenance for Matheson Trucking.

The company introduced 12 LNG Kenworth T880 day cabs in Oakland, California, in January and has completed the deployment of 17 CNG Kenworth T680’s in Boise, Idaho. Matheson is in the process of taking delivery of eight additional CNG T680 sleeper cabs for its Los Angeles to Seattle runs.

The CNG tractors destined for Boise include five, three-axle sleepers; ten, three-axle day cabs, and two, single-axle day cabs. These tractors pull a mix of trailers in Boise, with most in the 53 ft. category, used to transport U.S. Postal Service mail along designated routes.

“We plan to increase our inventory of green CNG tractors in the fleet wherever it is practical and cost effective to do so, and while diesel may still have an edge on long-haul routes, Matheson wants to move in a positive, responsible direction by becoming less dependent on fossil fuel,” said Joshua Matheson, vice president of operations.

Together these new vehicles bring the company’s tractor fleet total across all divisions to 262.

 

New York Awards New Flyer Contract for 138 CNG Xcelsior Buses

March 14, 2016

The New York City Transit Authority (NYCT) has awarded New Flyer of America a contract for 138 heavy duty 40 ft. Xcelsior CNG buses. The contract is a firm order for 138 XN40 Xcelsior buses and is valued at approximately $78 million. New Flyer has also bid to supply the NYCT with 139 60 ft. Xcelsior buses.

NYCT and MTA Bus Company comprise the largest transit agency in North America with over 5,700 transit buses in their fleet and an annual ridership of nearly 670 million. New Flyer began building buses for MTA more than two decades ago and to date has built over 1,900 buses, of which 1,353 are actively in service for MTA today.

 

TruStar Energy to Build and Service 12 Additional CNG Stations for UPS

March 18, 2016

TruStar Energy announced it was awarded a contract to build 12 additional CNG fueling stations for UPS. TruStar Energy will also maintain and service the stations under a long-term maintenance agreement.

As previously announced UPS plans to add 380 new CNG tractors to its growing alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet. The CNG fueling stations, vehicle purchases and CNG infrastructure totaling $100 million are part of UPS’s ongoing commitment to diversify its fuel sources and reduce its environmental impact.

The 12 new CNG stations will be built by TruStar Energy in Amarillo, Texas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Columbia, South Carolina; El Paso, Texas; Fort Worth, Texas; Kansas City, Kansas; Phoenix, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; San Antonio, Texas; Tifton, Georgia; Trinidad, Colorado; and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to continue our work with UPS to construct and maintain these CNG fueling stations,” said Adam Comora, President of TruStar Energy. “Building out the CNG fueling infrastructure is a vital part of making cleaner alternative fuels available for leading companies, such as UPS.”

In 2015, TruStar Energy built 15 CNG fueling stations for UPS.

 

San Diego TA Approves $23 Million for CNG Buses with Capital Improvement Program

March 18, 2016

The Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) in San Diego, California, has unanimously approved $108 million for the FY 2017 Capital Improvement Program. The program includes $23 million for the purchase of 45 new CNG buses.

“The MTS CIP is an important road map for planning and funding assets for San Diego’s transit system,” said MTS CEO Paul Jablonski. “Having more than $100 million to allocate in CIP funds is very healthy for an agency our size.”

The MTS also approved the construction of a $7.1 million transit facility among other projects and vehicle purchases. MTS uses capital improvement funding as the basis for federal, state and local grant applications. The CIP process began in October 2015 with an internal call for projects from MTS departments. Each department submitted its capital project requests in priority order, and the lists were consolidated for review by the Capital Projects Review Committee (CPRC). The CPRC reviewed the projects in the context of their impact on operations and determined the most critical projects to fund this year. For more information about all the MTS CIP projects selected visit the Board’s agenda packet here.

 

Agility Awarded New CNG Fuel Systems Contract from UPS

March 15, 2016

Agility Fuel Systems announced that UPS has ordered Agility’s new Behind-the-Cab CNG fuel systems for delivery in the third quarter of 2016. UPS has led the industry in the adoption of natural gas in heavy duty on-road trucking and, with this new order, will be operating over 1,700 heavy duty trucks equipped with Agility natural gas fuel systems.

The 700 mile range systems will be delivered out of Agility’s new manufacturing facility in Salisbury, North Carolina. The Behind-the-Cab CNG fuel system efficiently fits up to six inches closer to the cab for improved aerodynamics and to leave more available rail space for transporting freight. Improved flow dynamics in all the fittings provides faster filling and most usable fuel on board.

The fuel system is built with an aircraft-grade aluminum structure mounted on rubber isolators to reduce stress on components ensuring maximum durability. The four Hexagon Composites cylinders are carbon fiber wrapped and neck-mounted with anti-spin design to eliminate tank rotation that can stress fuel lines. Agility uses Geomet coated fasteners for ultimate corrosion protection and the pre-treated aluminum covers are painted at Agility’s automated paint facility to provide an automotive grade finish.

“Agility’s vision is to transform the transportation world by designing the most innovative, clean natural gas systems in the market today to ensure a more sustainable future,” said Kathleen Ligocki, Chief Executive Officer of Agility Fuel Systems.

 

Westport Appoints Rodney Nunn to Board of Directors

March 17, 2016

Westport Innovations announced that Rodney (Rod) Nunn, President and CEO of KSR International (KSR)—a leading Tier One automotive supplier—has been appointed to Westport’s Board of Directors as part of a nomination agreement between Westport and certain entities affiliated with Westport’s largest shareholder, Kevin Douglas. In connection with Westport’s entry into the nominating agreement, Jill Bodkin, one of Westport’s current directors, has agreed to step down from the Westport Board.

“Rod joins us at an exciting time and his depth of automotive parts manufacturing experience will provide additional strength to our Board,” said Warren Baker, Chairman of the Board. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jill for her years of commitment and the energy that she brought to Westport as a director from 2008 to 2016.”

Rod served as President and Chief Executive Officer of KSR from 1976 to 2011 and from November 2015 until present. KSR’s production facilities are strategically located globally on four continents, and the company is a vertically integrated manufacturing company located near its customers to provide quick response, cost containment and local expertise. Executive and engineering offices are headquartered in Ridgetown, Ontario, and sales are in Southfield, Michigan. Rod graduated from Technical College in England in 1963 with a U.E.I. and City of Guilds Certificate in Industrial Engineering.

 

Wärtsilä to Support Gas Powered LNG Carriers in Nigeria

March 18, 2016

Wärtsilä has signed a five-year maintenance agreement with Bonny Gas Transport Limited (BGT), a subsidiary of Nigeria LNG Limited, to monitor and service the engines on board the BGT’s six new LNG carriers and deliver spare parts, as well as expertise for inspections and major service overhauls. Nigeria LNG Limited exports most of its cargo to the European Asian markets. The six LNG carriers are equipped with five Wärtsilä 50DF engines each and operate primarily on gas.

Wärtsilä’s Dynamic Maintenance Planning (DMP) concept utilizing Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) will determine the actual engine maintenance needs. Bonny Gas Transport will also have around the clock access to online operational and technical support. The contract is the first of its kind for Wärtsilä in Africa.