News

GM Showcases Hydrogen-Powered Fuel Cell SUV, Says Infrastructure Next Hurdle
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell SUVs were among the lineup of alternative-fuel vehicles offered to fleet customers by General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operation (FCO) during a recent ride-and-drive event in Las Vegas. The modified Equinox SUVs are part of a 100-vehicle fuel-cell fleet currently undergoing field and customer testing to develop commercial versions of the technology that the company says delivers the equivalent of 100 to 150 MPG with no tailpipe or greenhouse emissions. GM has already spent over $1 billion developing fuel-cell technology, which represents the “endgame” in efforts to move away from petroleum-based vehicle fuels, according to John Gaydash, FCO director of marketing. Efforts “over the next five years to create an infrastructure [for hydrogen fueling] will shape the next 50 years,” he said.
Source: GM shows off fuel-cell trucks, Fleet Owner

Largest Procurement of Fuel Cell Systems for Public Transit
AC Transit of Oakland, California will purchase eight 120 kW fuel cell systems with options for an additional 13 units, to power AC Transit’s next-generation hybrid-electric fuel cell buses, scheduled for delivery in 2009 and 2010. This is the largest procurement yet in the US of fuel cell power systems for public transport buses. The ‘PureMotion Model 120’ fuel cell systems will be provided by UTC Power. AC Transit’s first-generation fuel cell buses feature an earlier model UTC Power fuel cell system, in which fuel economy in diesel gallon equivalency has consistently been between 70% and 100% better than a control fleet of AC Transit diesel buses.
Source: AC Transit Orders 8 Bus Fuel Cell Systems, Options 13 More, Green Car Congress

BlueFire’s First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Will Use Landfill Waste
California-based company BlueFire Ethanol plans to break ground on its first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant in the next few months. The facility, which will be adjacent to a county landfill in Lancaster, CA, will have the capacity to produce 3.1 million gallons of ethanol from garden and wood waste and non-recyclable paper. The plant will begin operations next year and CEO Arnie Klann hopes to double the plant’s capacity in a few years as the amount of biomass coming to the new landfill grows. So far, cellulosic ethanol production has been hampered by the difficulty of economically harvesting and collecting enough cellulosic material to continuously run a large plant. BlueFire plans to circumvent that difficulty by locating its plants at landfills that already separate out green waste such as tree and bush trimmings.
Source: BlueFire to Break Ground, Greentech Media

Chevron Doubles its Commitment to Alternative Energy Technologies
Chevron Corp. says it expects that by 2009 it will have invested $2.5 billion in alternative and renewable energy technologies for the three-year period which began in 2007. At an average of $833 million per year, that's more than double the per-year average of $400 million that Chevron invested on such technologies during the preceding period of 2002 through 2006. Chevron said it is investing in a range of energy technologies from biofuel and hydrogen fuel to geothermal and solar energy. The company will be working on transit programs related to buses powered by natural gas and hydrogen fuel, as well as biofuels derived from soybeans.
Source: Chevron commits to `alt' energy, Inside Bay Area

Diverse Nations over Three Continents Look to Natural Gas for Transportation
News from NGVAmerica this week indicates that nations spread over the globe in three different continents are united by a common goal to make a success of using natural gas for transportation:

In Africa, the Federal Government of Nigeria plans to “create a pilot network for the distribution of CNG to establish a basis for displacement of conventional liquid fuels in transportation and other sectors.” According to the Nigerian Minister of Energy, over two million vehicles would be converted to CNG within the next five years.

In Asia, the City District Government of Karachi, Pakistan has initiated a project to introduce CNG buses into the city, which will eventually result in the deployment 2,500 CNG buses. The project, backed by the federal government, will deploy the first fleet of 500 CNG buses in July, with the remaining 2,000 to be phased in over the next five years.

In Europe, the capital of Norway, Oslo, is putting in place a biomethane project to address the problems of managing urban waste and reducing CO2 emissions in public transportation. Funds are in place to implement several initiatives through 2010, including the building of a biomethane plant and the deployment of buses fueled by biomethane.

Source: NGVAmerica

Landfill Gas To Become Natural Gas Fuel For Trucks
Waste Management, North America's largest refuse hauling company, has announced plans to convert landfill gas into clean vehicle fuel through a partnership with Linde North America. The $15.5 million program will purify and liquefy gas created by organic waste at a California landfill. The resulting liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be used to fuel Waste Management's fleet of natural gas collection trucks. The facility could produce 13,000 gallons of LNG each day beginning in 2009 and will be the largest of its kind, says Waste Management. The program would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30,000 tons each year. “Natural gas is already the cleanest burning fuel available for our collection trucks, and the opportunity to use recovered landfill gas offers enormous environmental benefits to the communities we serve,” said Duane Woods of Waste Management. The California Environmental Protection Agency called the program a key milestone in helping to develop “more than 200 million gallons of clean transportation fuel each year from the garbage in California's landfills.”
Source: Livermore Landfill Gas To Become Fuel For Trucks, CBS5

California Offering $7.7M to Expand Hydrogen Fueling Network
The California Air Resources Board said it wants to encourage the hydrogen highway and is making $7.7 million available to help roll out the hydrogen network. The funds are earmarked for the construction and improvement of hydrogen fueling stations in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. “We are shifting California's economy to clean energy and hydrogen plays an important role,” said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the Air Resources Board. “The increased use of hydrogen in the transportation sector would diversify California's energy sources and reduce harmful smog-forming and climate-changing emissions.” The board said there are 24 hydrogen stations currently operating in California, with more planned.
Source: California putting up $7.7M for hydrogen fueling stations, CleanTech

Los Angeles MTA to Purchase 260 New High-Capacity CNG Buses
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will buy up to 260 new high-capacity buses that run on cleaner-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). The new buses have 15% more capacity than standard 40-foot buses and will replace the oldest diesel and CNG buses in Metro's fleet. Funding for the project will come from a combination of federal, state and local funds and delivery will be completed by June 2010. Metro now has a fleet of 2,561 active buses, almost all of them fueled with compressed natural gas. The Metro Board had also intended to purchase gasoline-hybrid vehicles as part of this order, however after review, it was determined that the proposed technologies for the hybrid vehicles are not fully developed and tested.
Source: 260 High Capacity CNG Buses for Los Angeles MTA, NGV Global

Indonesia Reduces Biodiesel Blend to Just 1%
Indonesia’s state oil firm Pertamina has cut the biofuel blend in diesel to 1% — down from 2.5%. Since the company introduced Biosolar fuel in May 2006, it has gradually cut its biodiesel content from an initial 5% to 2.5% in 2007, and again to 1% in 2008. The company cites rising palm oil prices and lack of incentives. The Indonesian government subsidizes biodiesel at the same level as fossil fuels, leaving Pertamina to cover the difference when biodiesel production costs exceed fossil fuel costs. “Soaring palm oil prices have propelled prices of biodiesel, making them not feasible for the firm,” said Djaelani Sutomo, the company's vice-president. Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, has been pushing the use of biofuels to cut the use of costly petroleum products. However, rising palm oil feedstock and low domestic prices have prompted many biodiesel producers to delay the introduction of biofuel.
Source: Indonesia's Pertamina reduces biofuel blend in diesel, Reuters

San Diego Launches CNG Hybrid-Electric Bus
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has launched its first commercial bus with a compressed natural gas (CNG) hybrid-electric drive system. ISE Corporation developed the system and integrated it into a standard 40-foot transit bus. The CNG hybrid prototype bus will further cut emissions and fuel consumption, and provide more power and a quieter ride. Funding for the program was provided by grants from various air pollution control entities. “This new technology is important to California transit agencies. The CNG-electric hybrid technology represents the next step forward in our commitment to a healthier environment,” said San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts. Currently MTS operates 476 buses, of which 75% are CNG. The agency’s goal is to convert its entire fleet to CNG or hybrid technology within the next 6 years.
Source: San Diego Launches CNG Hybrid-Electric Bus, Green Car Congress