News > November

U.S. and China Discuss Deal to Promote Alternative Fuels
The United States and China are working on a pact to promote the use of biofuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and could announce an agreement as early as next month. The agreement would call for cooperation in research, producing crops for fuel and other areas, said Alexander Karsner, an Assistant U.S. Energy Secretary. The United States and China are the world’s biggest oil consumers and producers of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. A biofuels agreement between the two nations would be Washington's first such pact in Asia, after similar agreements with Brazil and Sweden. China is now the third-largest producer of biofuels, after the U.S. and Brazil, which together account for 80% percent of global production.
Source: U.S., China discuss deal to promote oil alternatives, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Daimler Launches Initiative for Environmentally Friendly Commercial Vehicles
Daimler has launched its ‘Shaping Future Transportation’ initiative by showcasing 16 trucks and buses featuring alternative drive systems and fuels. Daimler, which has already demonstrated the effectiveness of biodiesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) in its Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles for the past ten years, views vegetable oil-derived hydrated fuels (HVOs) and biomass to liquid (BTL) fuels as the most promising renewable fuels for the future. Hybrid technology and natural gas also play a key role. Having delivered over 1,500 hybrid buses and trucks together with 1,500 natural-gas-powered vehicles, Daimler now has the world’s largest fleet of environmentally friendly commercial vehicles in use by customers. “The Shaping Future Transportation initiative demonstrates that environmentally friendly commercial vehicles from Daimler are no longer prototypes, but real vehicles that are being used by customers,” said Andreas Renschler, Head of Daimler Trucks Division.
Source: 'Shaping Future Transportation': Daimler Launches Global Initiative for Commercial Vehicles that Are More Environmentally Friendly, Due Motori

Companies Form Joint Venture to Produce Camelina-Based Biodiesel
Two U.S. companies are joining forces to build the largest biodiesel plant in the nation to be fueled from Camelina feedstock—a distant relative to Canola that can grow on marginal land with minimal water or fertilizer. Targeted Growth, Inc., an agricultural bioscience firm that focuses on renewable energy, and Green Earth Fuels, a renewable biodiesel energy company, announced the formation of its joint venture, Sustainable Oils Inc., this week. The 100 million-gallon biodiesel manufacturing facility will be built in Montana and almost all of the initial feedstock will be grown in that state. Targeted Growth has been working on developing a Camelina seed that will thrive in Montana's climate and soil and that produces high quality biodiesel.
Source: Houston firm in Montana biodiesel joint venture, Houston Business Journal

LNG Trucks Start Fleet Operations in Australia’s Demanding Highway Conditions
As part of its Australian LNG truck demonstration program, Westport Innovations Inc. has started fleet operations of some of its heavy-duty liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks with fleets representing the most experienced LNG users in Australia, perhaps in the world. Australian truck fleets operate the highest mileage, highest load trucks in the world and LNG is beginning to be widely produced in Australia, where its relatively low cost compared to diesel can deliver significant cost savings for fleets. With the assistance of AUD$1.4 million from the Australian government's Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme, Westport has been working to develop and test its HPDI (high pressure direct injection) system for heavy-duty highway trucks in Australia's demanding operating conditions. The testing results have validated greenhouse gas reductions of over 20% and particulate matter reductions of approximately 50% relative to diesel counterparts.
Source: Westport Launches Heavy-Duty LNG Highway Trucks In Australia; First Commercial Pre-Orders for 2008 LNG Trucks, Earthtimes.org

New York’s First Hydrogen Station Will Support GM’s Project Driveway
The state of New York has opened its first hydrogen station to support GM's ‘Project Driveway’ — an effort to move fuel cell technology from the laboratory into people's driveways. Project Driveway, the first large-scale consumer market test of fuel cell electric vehicles anywhere, is expected to begin in January 2008. GM will deploy more than 100 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles among selected customers in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C., where a variety of drivers will test drive the vehicles for between three and 30 months. Participants will provide regular, candid feedback about their use of the vehicle in their daily lives, the vehicle's performance and their personal preferences.
Source: Chevrolet's Project Driveway Fuel Cell Drivers Get Convenient Fuel at New York's..., Reuters

India Sugar Mills to Produce 'Bio-CNG' with European Aid
With the aid of European finance, three sugar factories in India will produce 'Bio-CNG' transportation fuel from sugarcane biomass. One of Europe's largest international development banks, the German Investment and Development Company, has earmarked  $22 million in lending for the factories. Biogas Nord and Enersearch, a European research institute engaging in renewable energy solutions, will provide technical know-how. In India, compressed natural gas has been the fuel of choice in large metropolitan areas — with these new projects, a bio-based alternative made from agricultural waste will make the fuel available in rural areas. Experts predict it could become the cheapest of all transport fuels in India.
Source: Indian sugar mills to produce 'bio-CNG' from cane biomass with European aid, Checkbiotech

Hydrogen Buses Set for London — Part of Hydrogen Transport Action Plan
The Mayor of London has announced that as part of London’s Hydrogen Transport Action Plan, 10 new hydrogen-powered buses will join the city’s bus fleet by 2010.  Announced in 2006, the plan aims to introduce 70 new hydrogen vehicles into the capital city. The new hydrogen buses, which incorporate hybrid technology, will match their diesel counterparts in terms of range and operating hours but will produce substantially fewer emissions of CO2 and other harmful air pollutants. Transport is currently responsible for 22% of the city’s emissions. London is the first city in Europe to commit to a hydrogen bus fleet of this type and size. “This represents an important step towards my target of having five per cent of all public sector fleet vehicles powered by hydrogen by 2015," noted Mayor Livingstone.
Source: Mayor announces Europe's largest fleet of hydrogen buses for London, Greater London Authority

Tokyo Auto Show Showcases Hybrid Concepts
The 40th Tokyo Motor Show saw the world premier of six hybrid cars along with three electric vehicles and one fuel cell car. Toyota led the pack with four of the hybrids introduced at the show, including the Toyota 1/X concept car, which aims to be a smaller, lighter Prius. Toyota has used carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the body, reducing the weight of the four-passenger vehicle to not much over 400 kilograms. The plug-in hybrid's engine displacement is a third of the Prius, but the automaker said the vehicle is able to achieve acceleration comparable to that of the current Prius.
Source: Hyper hybrids headline Tokyo Auto Show, Cleantech.com

GM on Track to Road Test Electric Car in Early 2008
General Motors Corp is on track to road test its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid in early 2008, and will produce the rechargeable car by late 2010, says Bob Lutz, GM's head of global product development. GM is the only automaker to have provided a timeline on the production of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, even though other companies, such as Ford Motor Co and Toyota Motor Corp, are working on similar technology. The automaker is designing the Volt to run 40 miles on battery power alone, and is on track to launch the highly anticipated vehicle in November 2010.
Source: GM on track to road-test electric car in early '08, Reuters

First Fleet of Clean CNG Buses Introduced to Metropolitan Manila
In a campaign to promote clean air in the heavily polluted metropolis of Manila, the city has introduced its first fleet of compressed natural gas buses. The buses run on compressed natural gas supplied by the Philippines’ own offshore gas fields, providing an economic benefit because the country can avoid using its foreign currency reserves to import fuel. The country’s Department of Energy has approved the importation of 200 CNG buses and has already accredited seven bus operators who have committed to operate 185 CNG buses by the end of this year.
Source: First fleet of ‘clean’ buses hits Metro streets, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Nation’s First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Breaks Ground
Private U.S. company Range Fuels broke ground this week on the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. The plant, which will use mostly wood waste as a feedstock, will begin producing commercial levels of cellulosic ethanol starting as soon as 2008. The biorefinery, being built in Georgia, will initially make 20 million gallons per year (gpy) of ethanol from sawdust, pine trees and wood bits left over from cutting down lumber. It is slated to eventually grow to 100 million gpy of production. Range Fuels is one of six companies that will receive a total of about $385 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy for making cellulosic fuel.
Source: Range says will make wood cellulosic fuel in 2008, Reuters

New Delhi to Double Number of CNG Buses to 6,100
The government of New Delhi, India is committed to doubling the number of compressed natural gas buses in Delhi within two years, raising the number of CNG buses in the city from 3,000 to 6,100. Launching a fleet of new eco-friendly buses this week, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit commented that it “would change the scenario of public transport in Delhi,” explaining that the new natural gas buses will reduce air pollution and strengthen the public transport system. “An efficient, reliable and comfortable bus system in Delhi will encourage citizens to opt for public transport in place of private cars. Shift of commuters to public transport is essential for not only reducing air pollution but also for easing traffic congestion and reducing accident rates," she said.
Source: Eco-friendly bus fleet flagged off in Delhi, India eNews

University to Test Bacteria to Biofuel Idea
Arizona State University (ASU) scientists may have discovered how to promote growth of a critical fuel source from containers full of bacteria nurtured with sunshine and greenhouse gases. ASU researchers will test the idea over the next two years. The project calls for growing a strain of bacteria in tubes as part of a photosynthetic process. The bacterium is expected to yield a fatty substance that can produce biodiesel. The advantage of developing such a method of growing renewable biofuel, researchers say, is that it can absorb harmful gases and provide a clean source of energy. The project will be funded with a two-year, $2.2 million Science Foundation Arizona grant that will be matched by an equal amount from petroleum giant BP and Arizona State University.
Source: ASU biofuel growth idea to be tested in Tempe, The Arizona Republic

Swiss Convent Opts for Natural Gas Transportation
Benedictine nuns based in Zurich, Switzerland have seen the light — opting to convert to alternative fuel for their transportation needs. In its Ergasfahren news, the Swiss Natural Gas Vehicle Association reports that, as true believers in natural gas as an alternative fuel source, the nuns are opting to carry out their missions in a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled VW EcoFuel Caddy.
Source: Preaching to the Converted – Swiss Convent Opts for NGVs, NGV Global

Nike to Use LNG Trucks to Reduce Diesel-Related Emissions in LA Ports
Nike, Inc. and its affiliate Converse will switch a significant portion of their Los Angeles area harbor drayage fleet from diesel to a new ‘green fleet’ of liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles. The company recently joined the Coalition for Responsible Transportation (CRT), a group advocating the use of cleaner truck technologies in port communities. A substantial percentage of the footwear, apparel and equipment which Nike and Converse import from the Asia Pacific region enter through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Nike estimates the new LNG trucks will emit 18% less CO2, 88% less NOx and 96% less particulate matter per mile when compared to their diesel counterparts. “We think LNG trucks can be part of the approach for addressing the air quality impacts of drayage trucking in the area around these vital ports,” said CRT spokesperson James Jack.
Source: Nike, Converse to Use Liquefied Natural Gas Trucks at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports, CSR Newswire

Survey: Americans Want More Renewable Fuels
The Renewable Fuels Now Coalition has released the results of a poll that says 74% of Americans want to see increased use of renewable fuels. Of those polled, 87% believe active support of the federal government should go toward developing the renewable fuel industry and Congressional action to encourage oil refiners to blend more ethanol into their products was supported by 77%. Although ethanol has been blamed by some for recent food price increases, according to the poll, 84% thought other factors such as high oil prices, increased global demand and drought were more responsible for rising food prices than ethanol production.
Source: Americans Want More Renewable Fuels, Prairie Farmer

Chevron and DOE to Jointly Research Transportation Fuels Using Algae
Chevron Corporation and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have entered into a joint research and development agreement to study and advance technology to produce liquid transportation fuels using algae. Chevron and NREL scientists will collaborate to identify and develop algae strains that can be economically harvested and processed into finished transportation fuels such as jet fuel. Algae are considered a promising feedstock for next-generation biofuels because certain species contain high amounts of oil, which could be refined into transportation fuels using currently available technology. Other benefits of algae as a potential feedstock are their abundance and fast growth rates.
Source: Chevron and National Renewable Energy Laboratory to Collaborate on Research to Produce Transportation Fuels Using Algae, CNN Money

California to Fund Research and Development of 10 Fuel Alternatives
The California Energy Commission has approved an aggressive plan to fund research and push the use of 10 alternative fuels — including biodiesel, hydrogen, natural gas and electricity. The plan recommends that California’s use of alternative fuels grow to 9% in five years, 11% in 10 years and 26% in 15 years — a step considered crucial to the state's goals of cutting its dependence on petroleum and sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If the plan's goals were met, California would eliminate the use of more than 4 billion gallons of gasoline by 2020, and alternative fuels would provide over half the energy needed to power cars and trucks. The plan recommends that the state spend as much as $200 million a year on research. "I think it sends a signal … that we're very serious about alternative fuels, and not just ethanol," said a commission spokeswoman. 
Source: State panel OKs push to meet energy goals, Los Angeles Times

Pakistan to Improve Public Transportation With 8,000 New CNG Buses
In Pakistan, the government and private sector plan to improve public transportation by investing over half a billion dollars to purchase 8,000 compressed natural gas (CNG) buses over the next five years. With the goal of cleaner public transport services in Pakistan’s major cities, 5,000 large and 3,000 medium sized CNG buses will be introduced over the five-year period. The lion’s share of the investment will come from the private sector, while the government will provide interest subsidies. The project will be launched in Karachi.
Source: Plan to Induct 8,000 CNG Buses in 5 Years, The News International

North Dakota’s Largest Biofuel Plant Increases Demand for State’s Canola Crop
As a new Archer Daniels Midlands (ADM) biodiesel plant in North Dakota begins churning out clean-burning fuel, demand for the state’s canola crop has just jumped by about 1-1.5 million acres a year. Approximately 2.7 gallons of biodiesel can be made from one bushel of canola and the plant has a permit to make 85 million gallons of biodiesel per year using 750,000 metric tons of canola oil. With the biodiesel plant — the largest in the state — located on the site of ADM's canola crushing facility, the canola seed can either be crushed for vegetable oil or made into high-quality biodiesel. Sean Rath, ADM plant manager, said the market will play a part in what ADM does with the canola it buys. “If the price for crude oil goes up, that's favorable for biodiesel; if crude oil goes down, then it's not,” he said.
Source: New biodiesel plant increases need for canola in North Dakota, Farm and Ranch Guide