CleanFuel CNG Blog

The Railroad Commission of Texas, which oversees oil and gas production in the state, recently reorganized some of its staff to improve efficiency and pave the way for a possible future increase in the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a transportation fuel.

The three commissioners, based in Austin, unanimously approved the creation of the Alternative Energy Division (AED) on Oct. 22. Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones, appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the commission in 2005, announced the AED’s launch the following day.

The new division, which focuses on existing alternative energy currently under the commission’s jurisdiction, is comprised of staff from across the agency, now united under one common purpose: the promotion and regulation of alternative fuels throughout the state of Texas. It’s being billed as a more efficient way to manage operations because there can be cross-training of inspectors, trainers, marketers and licensors in one place.

The Railroad Commission of Texas already has been promoting propane as a transportation fuel. According to the commission, Texas operates about 10.000 propane vehicles, and about 1.500, or 4 percent, of the state’s school buses are propane-powered. About 35 Texas districts operate propane school buses, and some have been using the fuel for more than 25 years.

Other important fuels would be liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas, which is used in many fleet vehicles. In the Fort Worth-Dallas area, three districts operate a total of about 40 CNG buses, according to the commission.

Barnett Shale Energy Education Council Executive Director Ed Ireland is a proponent of natural gas as a transportation fuel. Ireland and Texas Christian University’s Ken Morgan, director of the Energy Institute, recently launched the Metroplex Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium, which aims to bring together groups and people who are interested in natural gas vehicles, including fleet operators, natural gas producers and more. One of the consortium’s goals is to encourage the building of natural gas-fueling stations.

CNG can be fun, exciting and powerful - Hotrod conversion underway by AFVTech

Research and development of alternative fuel vehicle and alternative fuel power solutions is the business of AFVTech Inc., based in Phoenix, Arizona. Now it is applying its expertise to the development of a compressed natural gas hot rod based on a 1933 Ford Roadster.

According to a report carried by Green Car Advisor, AFVTech President Kevin Fern declared the company’s intention with the vehicle conversion is simply to make a statement that “natural gas can be fun to drive, fast and wrapped up in a package that will turn heads.

He added, “We are investing a lot of engineering time in this project, highlighting the technological advancements that we use in the Natural Drive Dedicated EPA Certified CNG retrofit systems.” The 600hp vehicle will apparently debut at the AFVI trade show in Las Vegas in May 2010.

Source: Green Car Advisor

Texans are gearing up for an increased natural gas vehicle presence with the formation of the Metroplex Natural Gas Vehicle Consortium, announced September 24. According to a report by FW Business Press, there are several organizations in the area with an interest in energy and natural gas, which have come together to “develop new and expanded markets and refueling stations for natural gas in the Fort Worth-Dallas area”. The north Texas area currently has nine natural gas refueling stations that are available for public use.

According to Ken Morgan, executive director of the TCU Energy Institute, which co-hosted a natural gas vehicle symposium in June with the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, a stumbling block to expanding the use of natural gas vehicles is the lack of a natural gas fueling infrastructure in the region. As such, consortium members are exploring three options to solve this problem, according to organization officials.

Plans include stepping up pressure at existing compressor sites, identifying suitable new sites for fueling stations, and eventually establishing refueling corridors along the major arteries between Fort Worth and Dallas, ultimately connecting to Oklahoma City, Waco, Houston and other major metropolitan areas.

The report states members include energy companies, a government organization and other businesses with an interest in natural gas. Current members are: Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Republic Services, Chesapeake Energy, XTO Energy, Clean Energy Fuels, EOG Resources, EnCana, Quicksilver Resources, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments.

Source: Fort Worth Business Press

Energy producer, Apache Corporation has opened its first compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling station at Elk City, Oklahoma, enabling the company to fuel field vehicles with cleaner-burning gas produced from the company’s wells in the Anadarko Basin of western Oklahoma. The station has the capacity to refuel 100 vehicles per day. Initially, it will be used to fuel more than 40 CNG-powered Apache field vehicles.
“This is a small step; Apache is exploring ways to share the excess capacity at the Elk City refueling facility with other CNG fleet operators and build additional refueling facilities at other company locations,” G. Steven Farris, Apache’s chairman and chief executive officer said. “The biggest obstacle right now is the lack of refueling infrastructure; that’s why we had to build our own station,” Farris said. “The private sector could build adequate infrastructure to fuel many of the nation’s public and private vehicle fleets, but policy makers will need to consider appropriate incentives to accelerate development.”

“Apache’s actions raised awareness of the abundant natural gas resource in the US that can provide an immediate cost-effective means to reduce America’s dependence on imported oil”, added Farris, “until other alternative fuels with lower greenhouse gas emissions become more economical to implement.”

Fox Service Company, a locally owned, multitrade service provider that works with air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, has begun installing and servicing FuelMaker compressed natural gas refueling stations for residences and businesses, a move that some businesses say could bring CNG vehicles to the forefront of Central Texans’ attention.

See complete Austin Business Journal Article

Nissan Sentra now available in Peru in Natural Gas, why can’t we get it here?

Volkswagen is exhibiting both propane and natural gas at the Bologna Italy Motor Show in bi-fuel models. The Passat Ecofuel comes from the VW factory equipped with a 1.4 liter turbo charged direct injection enginethat can run on natural gas or unleaded.  The Passat’s CNG tanks are under the floor board and do not impact passenger or cargo room and can drive 311 miles before switching to the unleaded reserve tank giving it total of a 559 mile range total.

FuelMaker Corporation recently announced that every Phill unit produced after Sept 22, 2008, will no longer have a mandatory 6000 hour service interval.  It will be up to the customer and local dealers to determine when a unit needs to be refurbished.  When units are repaired or refurbished they will in turn no longer have a mandatory service interval.  The standard warranty of 1000 hours or 1 year, whichever comes first, coverage will not change.

Toyota displayed a CNG Hybrid Camry at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November.  Toyota produced a natural gas Camry for several years in the past then dropped it.

USA Today Article-  www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2008-09-24-toyota_N.htm

A natural gas Chevy Taxi raced in the 4500 kilometer road rally Caminos del inca. It came in 16th of 86 entries and was one of only 25 cars to finish the race. According to the pilot of the car, Jose Camayo, manufacture and design of the car is excellent, which was demonstrated by the results obtained during the competition. Only 25 cars completed the race, including the Chevy Taxi with NGV.

View the complete article