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ALTERNATIVE CLEAN TRANSPORTATION EXPO
THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2011
Welcome to ACT Expo 2011 ACT Expo 2011, the Alternative Clean Transportation Expo, is organized by Gladstein, Neandross & Associates (Booth 108).
A Hybrid from Hino Toyota’s Hino Trucks unit has brought its brand new hybrid electric truck, available —Page 4 in Class 4 or 5 configurations.
Impco’s Full Suite Parent Fuel Systems acquisition spree continues as management sees a bright future —Page 10 for gaseous fuel vehicles.
Pure Battery Buses Foothill Transit is buying nine more from Proterra, quadrupling early fleet. —Page 11
Clean Energy Expands CEO Andrew Littlefair shares his thoughts as momentum builds for NGVs. —Page 12
Gaseous Fuels from GM Natural gas vehicles and propane too, as —Page 13 upfitters benefit.
CEC’s New Buy-Downs The California Energy Commission has $14.5 million to help offset higher costs of natural gas and propane vehicles. —Page 13
Clean Air Power Dual-Fuel Dual-Fuel specialist shows the technology on ProStar truck with a Maxxforce engine. —Page 21
Additional News Published Online at www.showtimesdaily.com
Gladstein, Neandross and Associates CEO Erik Neandross, California Energy Commission alternative fuel and vehicle technology program manager Peter Ward, Ryder System group director of vehicle supply management Scott Perry, U.S. Department of Energy-Clean Cities national director Dennis Smith, Sanbag VP and Southern California Association of Governments president Larry McCallon, and Ryder sales VP Alex Madrinkian cut the big ribbon as Ryder gets ready to rent natural gas-fueled trucks in Rancho Dominguez, Calif. –Page 4
Ryder Cuts Ribbon, ACT Expo Ready to Rip The Alternative Clean Transportation Expo got off to a bang yesterday as Ryder System leapt into alternative fuels by committing to offering more than 202 natural gas-fueled trucks for leasing and rental. ACT Expo organizer Gladstein, Neandross & Associates is riding the clean transportation wave –and helping exhibitors and conference attendees do so too – as all seek to cash in on a combination of burgeoning domestic fuel availability, a real desire to move Amer-
ica away from foreign oil, California-qualified propane vehicles, better batteries making EVs practical, and, above all, rising gasoline and diesel prices. “It’s turning into a commercial argument,” says Balqon chief Balwinder Samra, as his company has brought a brand new 100% electric terminal tractor to the show (Page 17) – just one of some 70 new clean vehicles here.
Gas & Hybrids Kenworth’s Andy Douglas expects a good show, with a new model hybrid and a new engine option in natural gas to talk about. —Page 6
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ACT EXPO 2011
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ACT Expo – The Time Is No w: Act on It! Dear F&F ShowTimes Readers and ACT Expo Attendees: Welcome to Long Beach and the 2011 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. We are very excited to have you here for this groundbreaking event. The buzz has been building for the last several months and we are glad the moment has finally arrived. With more OEM technology being offered in the market today than ever before, soaring fuel prices, and national security at the top of the agenda these days, there is an absolute groundswell of activity and increasing momentum in the advanced transportation technology and alternative fuel sectors. ACT Expo 2011 could not have been better timed. We have an exceptional line up of speakers, topics, exhibitors, sponsors, and 70 advanced technology and alternative fuel vehicles on display in the jam-packed Expo Hall
Publisher Kirk Fetzer 415-385-0987; Kirk@CTNPublishing.com Editor Rich Piellisch 415-305-9050; Rich@CTNPublishing.com Reporter John Morris Photographer Mel Lindstrom Production Designer Maureen Spuhler News Coverage by Fleets & Fuels
formation and resources needed to result in additional procurement and deployment of alternative fuel vehicles and advanced transportation technologies in the marketplace. Realization of this goal will result in reduced emissions in our communities, greater national security, and improvements to the bottom line. I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules and for
Erik Neandross
choosing to be here with us at the 2011 ACT Expo. We have a fantastic couple of days lined up for you and expect that you will get a lot out of your time here in Long Beach. Good luck and enjoy the show. Erik Neandross Chief Executive Officer Gladstein, Neandross and Associates
GNA Makes It Happen and in the 2011 show’s extensive ride-and-drive. We have the answers, the options, the success stories, the “how to”, the technology, and the key industry players. We have Ford, GM, Honda and all kinds of other light and medium duty players. We have Freightliner, Peterbilt and Kenworth, and all kinds of other heavyduty players. Our goal for this conference and expo is to provide you with the in-
Besides organizing meetings like this week’s ACT Expo, Santa Monica-based Gladstein, Neandross & Associates designs fueling facilities, helps clean transportation companies make themselves known with special events, press releases and even websites, and helps with the funding that makes it all possible: “Over the last 15 years, GNA has successfully secured over $210 million on behalf of its clients,” the Santa Monica-based organization says. GNA helped win DoE funding for the 202-truck Ryder System natural gas truck rental initiative that kicked off yesterday – one of 11 DoE ARRA-backed initiatives it shepherded through the grant approval process. GNA also developed a roadmap for Pennsylvania to target natural gas vehicles as it exploits methane from the huge Marcellus Shale formation. More on GNA in Friday’s Fleets & FuelsShowTimes.
Friday ACT Expo Ride-and-Drive! ACT Expo organizer GNA is staging a Friday ride-and-drive with nearly 20 alternative clean transportation vehicles. The ride-anddrive begins at 12:30 Friday, just outside the doors by the rightrear of the Expo Hall lunch area, and will run about two hours.
Vehicles for ACT Expo Ride & Drive NATURAL GAS Landi Renzo, Buick CNG Lucerne Ryder Freightliner M2 Tandem-axle CNG Tractor Ryder Freightliner M2 tandem-axle LNG Tractor Honda CNG Civic Sedan Ford Motors CNG Transit Connect
Gary Lindquist of Bosch with BMW x35d Clean Diesel Sport
ELECTRIC Freightliner M2 106 Hybrid Electric Tractor ALT e, 2008 Ford F150 Electric Range Extended Pickup Truck
www.fleetsandfuels.com Printed by: Pacific West Litho, Inc. ShowTimes is published live at ACT Expo 2011 by Convention & Tradeshow News. Advertising Department: (415) 979-1414 Editorial Department: (415) 896-5988 www.CTNPublishing.com © Copyright 2011 by Convention & Tradeshow News. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Reprints available upon request.
PROPANE Blue Star Gas Bi-Fuel Propane Crown Victoria Police Interceptor Heritage Propane Propane Ford F-250 Extended Cab & Bed Pickup Truck Delta Liquid Energy Propane Ford F-250 Pickup Truck Roush Clean Tech Ford E-450 Propane Shuttle Bus Roush Clean Tech Ford E-350 Propane Passenger Van IMPCO Propane, GM Silverado
HYBRID Peterbilt Model 330 Diesel Electric Hybrid Truck Ford Motors E-350 Balance Hybrid Ford Motors Fusion Hybrid HYDROGEN Honda Hydrogen FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Sedan CLEAN DIESEL BMW 335d Clean Diesel Sedan BMW X5 xDrive x35d Clean Diesel Sport
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The Prius of Trucks? Hino’s New Cabover Marks Toyota Unit’s Hybrid Sector Debut ACT Expo sponsor Hino Trucks has brought its new 195H model, a Class 5 hybrid electric truck, for the show’s ride-and-drive from 12:30 to 2:30 on Friday afternoon. Hino unveiled its Class 4/5 hybrid cabovers at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis in March. The hybrid lineup includes two dieselelectric hybrid variants – the 155H and 195H – marking a first, says the manufacturer, in the U.S. Class 4 cabover market. “We have a burning desire to make the world a better place,” proclaimed Hino Motors president Yoshiro Shirai, in announcing the new trucks, citing a hybrid history dating back to diesel/electric buses that entered service in 1991 – the first of some 10,000 hybrid deliveries to date. Hino said pricing for the 155 and 195 straight diesels will be competitive with the
Hino’s new Class 4/5 cabover – with hybrid drive.
market. The targeted payback for the 155H and 195H hybrids is five years at today’s fuel prices. Hino will begin taking orders this month for delivery to dealers in August for the diesels, and in September for delivery to dealers in December for the hybrids, which will initially be introduced in California, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The company refers to the trucks as sixthgeneration hybrids. They feature nickel metal hydride battery packs made by Toyota’s Primearth EV Energy (formerly Panasonic EV) – essentially the same as the battery pack in the Lexus GS Hybrid. The company is investing some $500 million per year in R&D. “We want to make hybrids the rule for urban areas – not the exception,” Shirai said. 4
Natural gas-fueled Freightliner M2 trucks for Ryder: LNG on the left, CNG on the right.
NGV Rentals by Ryder liners have fuel tanks by Chart-NexGen. Ryder System’s project to make natural gasRyder is entertaining bids for two publicfueled trucks available for rental was detailed access LCNG fueling stations to support the in connection with ACT Expo yesterday at vehicles in Orange and Fontana, Calif. the Ryder Truck Rancho Dominguez facility “As Ryder has more than 1,200 customers east of here. operating over 6,000 heavy-duty vehicles in Ryder confirmed March 30 that it’s ordered Southern California, we have an incredibly 202 heavy-duty natural gas vehicles as part of important opportunity for proliferation,” said a “groundbreaking” project with Southern GNA CEO Erik Neandross. “By placing more California’s San Bernardino Associated than 200 natural gas trucks into a truck rental Governments (Sanbag) – making NGVs availand leasing fleet, the exposure to the technolable for both leasing and short-term rentals. ogy will be significant. “We’ll be able to expose this technology “As is always the case, the drivers love these to a number of different customers,” says trucks. We expect the use of these ultra-clean Ryder group director of vehicle supply management Scott Perry. Ryder is committing “We’ll be able to expose this technology $19.4 million of its own capital. to a number of different customers.” The $38.7 million, — Ryder group director of vehicle supply management Scott Perry. DoE Clean Cities ARRA-backed project machines will be expanded after each fleets’ was facilitated since 2009 by ACT Expo first exposure to the technology.” organizer Gladstein, Neandross & Associates. GNA notes that more than 100 applications GNA credits a strategic partnership coordiwere submitted to DoE for the Obama adnated with Sanbag. ministration’s big American Recovery and Ryder’s order includes 182 Freightliner Reinvestment Act opportunity, seeking nearly M2 112 tractors with Cummins Westport’s $1 billion in funding. “Of the 25 applications 8.9-liter ISL G engine, in both single-axle and awarded funding, 11 included projects assisted tandem-axle day cab configurations, some by GNA,” the organization says, including CNG- and some LNG-fueled, to be followed $10 million for the Ryder-Sanbag project. An by 20 LNG-fueled Peterbilt 386 tractors with additional $9.3 million was secured via the the 15-liter Westport Innovations GX engine California Energy Commission’s AB 118 proand Westport HD dual fuel system, all in gram, also with GNA assistance. tandem-axle day cab configuration. GNA is at Booth 108. Note also Freightliner The CNG Freightliners have fuel tank assemblies by Agility Fuel Systems using (824), Kenworth (344), Cummins Westport Type III, carbon fiber-on-aluminum cylinders (340), Westport Innovations (232), Agility Fuel from Structural Composites Industries, now Systems (229), Worthington-SCI (448), and a unit of Worthington. The LNG FreightChart-NexGen (240).
May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at ShowTimesDaily.com
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ACT EXPO 2011
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Kenworth Plans 11.9-Liter Trials Kenworth expects to start field trials imminently with Cummins Westport’s new, spark ignited 11.9-liter natural gas engine, which is still being kept under wraps by the manufacturer. The existence of the natural gas version of this diesel engine is an open secret, and it powers the prototype Freightliner Cascadia
truck here on show at ACT Expo. “About a dozen of these engines will be available to the industry for testing,” Andy Douglas, Kenworth’s national sales manager for specialty markets, told ShowTimes. “And we’re getting the majority of them. We’re in build now.
Driving natural gas forward. Fully factory-backed Ford trucks and vans, including cutaways and the new Transit Connect.
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BAF Bi-Fuel (CNG/Gasoline) E-250/350 and F-250/350 Conversions Now Available Come See Our New Dedicated CNG Transit Connect Cargo Conversion Here at ACT Expo 2011
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May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at ShowTimesDaily.com
Kenworth’s Andy Douglas
“There is a huge amount of early interest in this platform,” he added. The 11.9-liter natural gas engine fills the gap between the Cummins Westport 8.9-liter ISL G, which is too small for large over-the-road trucks and large buses, and the 15-liter GX LNG-only engine, sales of which are limited geographically to within range of fueling sites. The new engine, which delivers peak torque of 1,450 lb-ft, should be available in the first quarter of 2013 after 12 to 18 months of testing in the harshest conditions including extreme cold and heat, and high altitude. “The 11.9-liter engine is just right. It allows us to fit the largest of the Class 8 trucks (above 33,000 lb gross vehicle weight),” Douglas says. “There’s nothing comparable out there yet –a lot of press releases, but nothing on the road.”
Kenworth Trucks Are in Demand We’re seeing a huge expansion of the footprint of natural gas powered vehicles,” says Andy Douglas, Kenworth national sales manager for specialty markets. “It’s incredible how it’s spread across the country from the West Coast in this past year or two.” A large driver has been the price of diesel fuel. “When you can save $2 a gallon it er ally gets everyone’s attention,” he says. And if Congress passes the NAT GAS Act this summer, which will extend fuel credits and incentives for natural gas, “this will all take off like a rocket.” NAT GAS stands for New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions. Kenwor th is showing an LNG-fueled T440 ISL G Engine Extended Day Cab Tractor in Coca-Cola livery, a T800 Aerocab Sleeper with Westport ISX G Engine, also LNG fueled, and a T370 hybrid. The T440 ISL G, which was launched late last year, is proving popular. Douglas won’t give numbers, but hinted that a couple of large orders could be announced soon. Orders are running about 50/50 between trucks with the 8.9-liter ISL G engine and the 15-liter ISX G, he says. Kenworth is at Booth 344.
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Landi Renzo USA and Baytech for CNG Ford and GM Vehicles Landi Renzo USA is promoting Ford and General Motors natural gas vehicle conversion capabilities, noting that globally, Landi Renzo (which is based in Cavriago, Italy) supplied hardware for some 1.24 million OEM and aftermarket gaseous fuel vehicles in 2010. Landi Renzo USA, based near here in Torrance, is a new (incorporated in January 2010) division of Landi Renzo, which reported sales of 310 million euros last year (nearly $455 million at current rates), and a 40% market share in light duty CNG and propane vehicles. Customers include Fiat and Toyota. The company last year acquired Californiabased Baytech, giving it an immediate set of qualifications and certifications for a range of GM vehicles and engines. It subsequently announced that it would offer upfits of Ford E-series vans with the 5.4-liter gaseous-prep engine. Landi USA disclosed a new customer in March as Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle
Products showed a Ford E-350 van with a dedicated compressed natural gas fuel system by Landi Renzo at the Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. The firms said that Leggett & Platt would secure QVM – Qualified Vehicle Modifier – status with Ford, and that the L&P facility in Elyria, Ohio will be a ship-through center for E-250 and E-350 cargo and passenger vans with the Landi CNG system, with three and four fuel tank options. Landi USA is also supplying Baytech CNG systems for Chevrolet trucks for Knapheide, another work truck specialist, says sales VP John Sledge.
Agility designs and manufactures world-class alterna ve fuel systems for the truck, bus and specialty vehicle industry. We are the leaders in the natural gas industry with a proven track record of 10,000 fuel systems in service. We are proud to announce our latest CNG fuel system that will deliver a remarkable 80dge fuel capacity using a dual-tank frame rail mounted design. This is the ideal system for any OEM heavy duty chassis applica on. www.agilityfs.com
Above, Landi Renzo’s Jed Tallman, Gianluca Maso, and sales VP John Sledge, with business development VP John Fischer of Leggett & Platt; at left, Landi Renzo USA president Andrea Landi
Landi Renzo is showing a dedicated-CNG Ford E-250 CN G cargo van and a GMC Sierra 2500HD CNG pickup at Booth 636, and has brought a Buick Lucerne sedan outfitted for CNG for the ACT Expo ride-and-drive. Landi Renzo was founded in 1954 by Renzo Landi, grandfather of Landi Renzo USA president Andrea Landi.
This family of large CNG 25” diameter tanks is wound at a rate of 3 at-a- me. Weighing in at only 217 lbs. and a water volume capacity of 534L’s. For over 10 years Quantum has been under development to now manufacture the lightest Type IV tank with extended capacity in the industry. www.qtww.com
The approach is clear - less tanks, more capacity, less weight, reduce opera ng cost by 50%…anything else? Yes, the 25” diameter family of tanks will con nue to evolve to maximize range and efficiency….stay tuned.
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Natural Gas E&P Firms Are Leading by Example Natural gas exploration and production companies – E&Ps – are blessed with an abundance of domestic methane they hardly dreamed of just a few years ago. They have recognized transportation as a significant outlet for their product and have started to deploy their own natural gas vehicles by way of setting an example. Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy, America’s second largest natural gas producer and the largest in the emerging shale gas sector ,
New mobile fuelers for Encana are built by Cryogenic Vessel Alternatives of Mont Belvieu, Texas. The CVA fuelers have Ice Breaker brand LNG fueling nozzles from JC Carter (Booth 126).
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8
has just celebrated its 800th bi-fuel natural gas vehicle and has vowed to convert its entire light duty fleet of some 4,200 vehicles by 2014. Chesapeake is helping establish fueling infrastructure at convenience outlets like Love’s and OnCue Express in the Oklahoma City area. The firm says its strategy Chesapeake is eying heavy duty NGVs as well, as its subsidiary Hodges is being extended first Trucking operates some 400 Class 8 Kenworths for energy production. t o N o r t h Te x a s a n d Louisiana, and then to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Colorado, Wyoming and South Texas. E&P Speakers Calgary-based Encana has also deployed light duty Today and Friday NGVs, but thundered into the news last month by announcing plans for Heckmann Water Resources, which Chesapeake Energy VP Tim Denny provides water tanker services to natural gas producers, will outline the firm’s NGV Strategy and to deploy 200 LNG-fueled Peterbilt 367 trucks. EnProgram Progression at the Light Duty cana will provide for their fueling with new mobile units. vehicles session this afternoon. “We are very pleased to be part of an innovative Encana VP David Hill will address North American solution to expand the use of liqueA North American View of Natural Gas fied natural gas in large-freight vehicles in the U.S.,” Fueling Infrastructure - Integration of said Encana senior and executive VP Eric Marsh. “This CNG, LNG and Public/Private Accessat initiative is a major step towards encouraging many the Corridors session on Friday aftercompanies servicing the energy industry to convert venoon. Encana natural gas economy hicles to run on affordable, environmentally-responstrategic planning/market development sible LNG or compressed natural gas. team leader David Haugen is a panelist The Heckman Peterbilts and Encana mobile fuelfor ACT Expo’s closing plenary session, ers will find first use in Louisiana for Haynesville Shale also tomorrow afternoon. production. Peterbilt is at Booth 844.
Ford Sets a High Bar for Its Hybrids charging the batteries or proFord late next year will launch viding power to the wheels as its 2013 C-Max Hybrid and needed. The motor alone can the plug-in C-Max Energi provide sufficient power to the with lighter and smaller wheels in low-speed, low-load lithium ion batteries in a bid conditions, and work with the to outperform the hybrids on engine at higher speeds.” sale today. “C-Max Energi targets Both versions of the fivemore than 500 miles (800 kilopassenger “multi-activity vemeters) of driving range using hicle” will leverage Ford’s the battery and engine, more global C-car platform and the than any other plug-in or expowersplit hybrid architecture tended-range vehicle,” Ford on the current Ford Fusion says. “It also targets AT-PZEV Hybrid. status and delivers better “In a powersplit hybrid, the electric motor and gasoline- Ford’s C-Max Energi PHEV in Shanghai charge-sustaining fuel economy than Chevrolet Volt.” powered engine can work together or separately Ford wants to raise the Fusion Hybrid’s electo maximize efficiency,” Ford says. “The engine tric mode limit of 47 mph, too. Booth 318. also can operate independently of vehicle speed,
May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at ShowTimesDaily.com
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ACT EXPO 2011
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Impco’s ‘Full Suite of Capabilities’ Impco ( Booth 125 ) is representing a stable of companies including FuelMaker, GFI Control Systems and now NaturalDrive, as well as Indiana’s Productive Concepts International, an acquisition made after PCI (now part of Impco Automotive) emerged last year as the upfitter of factory-warranted compressed natural gas vans from General Motors. They’re all part of New York City-headquartered Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc., a publicly traded company that reported sales of $430.6 million for 2010 with net income just shy of $40.3 million (and is releasing first quarter 2011 tallies this morning). “We bring to bear the full suite of capabilities,” says Fuel Systems co-president Matthew Beale. They include both dedicated and bi-fuel
TA Gas, Zavoli – and Soon AFS? Besides its North American stable and Italy’s BRC, Fuel Systems owns Buenos Airesbased TA Gas T echnology, formerly Tomasetto Achille, giving it a presence in vehicle upfit equipment in Latin America, and Zavoli, an outfit with followings not only in Italy but in Turkey and Thailand, too. Fuel Systems last month tendered to buy Calgary’s Alternative Fuel Systems, affording better access to the burgeoning India market too. Impco is at Booth 125.
systems for CNG and propane vehicles, components like regulators and injectors (bolstered by 2009’s GFI buy), and fueling equipment. “We have a multi-brand, multi-product strategy,” Beale says. “We are a cash-generative, profitable clean tech company Fuel Systems has shifted production and there aren’t too many of of Phill and other FuelMaker products those that you can point to.” to Cherasco, Italy. Fuel Systems acquired ISO9001:2008-certified PCI, of operation to Italy, and re-launched the Union City, Ind. in August marque as BRC FuelMaker, offering 2010, shortly after PCI was larger compressors like the Taurus W picked as the upfitter for facdown through the FuelMaker FMQ tory-warranted GMC Savana line of VRAs (vehicle refueling appliand Chevy Express vans. An Matthew Beale, ances), and the Phill home fueler. “It’s order for 101 CNG-fueled Fuel Systems co-president an icon in the industry,” Beale says of Chevrolet Express Cargo 2500 vans for AT&T Phill. “An elegant solution.” was announced in March. “We’ve made a lot of engineering improveCalibration for the GM upfits in Indiana was ments that allow us to take cost out,” he says. performed by NaturalDrive (Booth 436), which be- Service resumption is an avowed priority too. Future prospects? “We’re at ground zero here came a Fuel Systems subsidiary via a $6 million buy which closed just last month. Given the prior in the United States and it’s exactly where we relationship, “It’s a natural fit without integration want to be,” Beale told F&FST prior to ACT pains,” says Beale. Beyond the GM vans, Natu- Expo. Is competition stiffening? “There’s room ralDrive offers CNG Chevrolet Impala sedans. for everybody,” he says. “The important thing is “California SULEV for the dedicated version is to deliver quality product.” “This can become more than a niche,” Beale anticipated within a few weeks,” says a company source, “providing another single-occupant HOV says of gaseous fuels, “as it has in many markets.” lane option for California fleets.” Europe’s BRC is a Fuel Solutions company supplying both vehicle hardware and CNG fueling equipment. Fuel Systems, through BRC, rescued Toronto-based FuelMaker from postHonda bankruptcy in spring 2009, moved the
Bi-Fuel Said to Be Key to Consumers
Impco Ramps Up in Indiana Citing “increased demand among fleet customers for clean and efficient alternative fuel technologies,” Impco Automotive said last week that it’s ramped up production of its CNG system for Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana Cargo vans. Work is done at the Productive Concepts International plant in Union City, Ind. acquired in August 2010. The 75,000-square foot facility “has been reconfigured into a high volume, high quality conversion plant utilizing state of the art manufacturing and quality conversion practices,” Impco says. Offerings include bi-fuel and dedicated propane-LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) vehicles, as well as bi-fuel and dedicated CNG vehicles. “We are proud to have launched the Chevrolet/GMC CNG van project in close cooperation with GM in record time,” said Rob Lykins, 10
who was PCI president and is now Impco Automotive sales and marketing director. “Fleet customers now have the opportunity to purchase the industry’s best CNG cargo van through any Chevrolet or GMC dealer.”
May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at ShowTimesDaily.com
Worldwide, most of Fuel Systems’ business is in bi-fuels, and bi-fuel vehicles are the “catalyst” for growing the gaseous fuel vehicles business, says Fuel Systems co-president Matthew Beale. Despite the important of current GM business, Beale calls the automaker’s dedicated CNG vehicles “just a starting point” in the U.S. Fuel Systems’ Impco-PCI unit is also converting more than 200 of the Indiana Department of Transportation’s working pickup and vans to bi-fuel gasoline-propane operation. “Bi-fuel is the key to expanding the addressable market,” he says, especially for consumers. Worldwide, he says, “In the passenger car space, it’s the lion’s share of the market.” The eligibility of bi-fuel vehicle for incentives in the pending NAT GAS Act is a big plus, Beale says. NAT GAS stands for New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions.
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Bob Becker with world’s first CNG fire truck
World’s First CNG Fire Truck The world’s first CNG-powered fire truck is at ACT Expo after being driven more than 5,000 miles for testing by West Coast fire departments. “Many are ready to buy,” says Bob Becker, a retired firefighter and driver for the manufacturer, HME Ahrens-Fox. A formal launch could be announced in about a month. Powered by a Cummins Westport 8.9-liter ISL G engine, the CNG fire truck performs as well as its diesel-powered siblings “but is much quieter,” Becker says, while the fuel “costs only half.” CNG fuel cylinders are by Canada’s Dynetek. The big question – How does the water pump per form? Just fine. It meets all the National Fire Protection Association standards, Becker says.
More Proterra Battery Buses The Foothill Transit board has approved the purchase of nine more battery electric buses from Colorado- and South Carolina-based Proterra (Booth 239 ), effectively quadrupling the fleet of three that entered service last year. The Proterra EcoRide BE-35 vehicles, called Ecoliners by Foothill, have accumulated more than 8,000 miles, and have been charged “hundreds” of times using an inductive charge system supported by AeroVironment (Booth 121), Foothill says. The nine new buses “will match the three Ecoliners currently in service and will fully electrify
Southern California’s Foothill Transit operates three 35-foot battery electric Proterra EcoRide BE-35 vehicles, which it calls Ecoliners, and is exercising an option to buy nine more
Line 291,” says Foothill’s Lauren Cochran. The agency will exercise an existing option with Proterra for the purchase. Foothill was awarded $10.2 million in Transit Investments in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions (or TIGGER II) funding for the nine new vehicles, Cochran says. “This was not only the largest TIGGER II grant in the state of California, but it was the largest in the nation and in Foothill Transit’s history,” she told F&F ShowTimes. The money was threatened earlier this year by so-called HR 1 legislation that was vetoed by President Obama. TIGGER funding was indeed reduced for fiscal year 2011 in the subsequent budget compromise. But according to Joe Sheehy, legislative director for California Congresswoman Grace Napolitano, “2010 money is what funded the foothill Ecoliner buses. That money was not adjusted or rescinded.” Proterra has publicized an additional order for three EcoRide BE-35 vehicles for San Antonio, and the Chicago Transit Authority is reportedly buying two.
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ACT EXPO 2011
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Clean Energy Fuels Maintains Its Expansion Drive Clean Energy Fuels, the natural gas vehicle fuel provider founded by T. Boone Pickens and Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO, continues its relentless expansion drive. Clean Energy (Booth 210) targets the high-volume transit, refuse, and regional trucking sectors, as well as public-access fueling. The company made two fueling infrastructure acquisitions (IMW and Northstar) and forged a landmark biomethane deal with Republic Services last year, is helping connect western cities with LNG for overthe-road trucks, and has recent contracts for upwards
Fleets & Fuels ShowTimes: President Obama gave a plug to natural gas vehicles last month with a grand nod to Mr. Pickens. A good day for NGVs? For Clean Energy? Andrew J. Littlefair: He finally endorsed natural gas, and then went so far as to mention Boone, and mention natural gas for transportation and vehicles, and talk about the NAT GAS Act. That went about as good as it could go, don’t you think? F&FST: The late-2009 acquisition of BAF took Clean Energy beyond fuel provision to vehicle conversions. Will you stay with that? AJL: We had a longstanding relationship with BAF. We had been working with them for a long time, and since we acquired them, the
of two dozen fueling stations. Clean Energy suppor ts more than 21,200 vehicles at 224 locations in the U.S. and Canada, providing both CNG and LNG. Revenues increased by just shy of 38% to $211.8 million in 2010, as fuel volumes grew by more than 21% – to 122.7 million gasoline gallon equivalents. Littlefair, who took Seal Beach, Calif.-based Clean Energy public in mid-2007 (NASDAQ:CLNE), talks about strategy and about gathering momentum, including the NAT GAS Act to restore and extend federal incentives for NGVs.
business has grown dramatically. It went from $14 million in revenue to forty. Their relationship has deepened and broadened with Ford. They’ve become QVM [a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier] and they’re a drop-ship-to and fully warranted product. It’s a real business. People say, ‘Well, what happens someday when Ford starts making all these things on the line?’ I’ve always said, ‘Well, that’s a good thing.’ I could be convinced someday that it could be at the right time and the right place that it would make sense for BAF be with somebody else, but right now we like the business. We’re investing in it. AT&T and others are comfortable with the fact that we’re doing the fueling and
Tackling the Name Brands Clean Energy Fuels decided last year to target the long haul truckers serving name-brand manufacturers, affording the big-name companies a relatively easy way to paint themselves green. An early success is Dillon Transport, which hauls materials for Owens Corning and is fielding 14 LNG-fueled Peterbilt 384s to supply an Owens Corning shingle plant. Clean Energy will build, operate and supply an LNG/CNG fueling station on Dillon-owned property in Dallas, to open in the third quarter of 2011. “Owens has an aggressive sustainability program,” says Clean Energy president and CEO Andr ew Mike Cramer of Owens Littlefair. “Working with us, they’ve Corning (left) and Jeff Dillon figured out that there’s real good eco- of Dillon Transport with LNG nomics for them, and for their hauler. Peterbilt 384 to be fueled by Clean Energy. We’re working with dozens of companies like Owens Corning and we’re seeing a lot of action. “You’re going to see a bunch more of them,” Littlefair says. “It’s the new frontier.” Clean Energy senior VP Jim Harger is leading the company’s national fleets initiative.
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we’re involved with BAF, so it feels good right now and it’s been a good business for us. Clean Energy’s Andrew Littlefair F&FST: What’s Clean Energy’s take on biomethane? agree they’re one of the big smart AJL: Biomethane continues to be logistics operators, and they’re movvery interesting to some of our cus- ing forward with [natural gas]. The tomers. We’re doing our second other players, a little bit smaller, still landfill at Sauk Hills in Michigan, a big companies, see UPS move this Republic Services location. They’ve way and they’re doing it because gotten very strong about natural gas they think they can save money. Others have to follow. The UPS for their trucks, but they want also to be able to hedge all their fuel thing, their leadership, I thought using landfill gas, biomethane, for was dynamite. their trucks. They see that as a beau- F&FST: Your message here? tiful hedge and a beautiful environ- AJL: The proof’s in the pudding. mental story. That’s why they asked We’ve added 25 stations to our staus to do this next project, and we tion carpet in the last six weeks, 25 hope to do several more. When you new stations that we’re going to look at the refuse market, I think build. The market’s here. It’s arrived. fully 30 or 40% of the [new sale] People have looked around at all trucks are going to be natural gas. the different alternatives and peoF&FST: Given shale gas, do we need ple have figured out that the counbiomethane? try does have a hell of a lot of natural AJL: We’ve got all this natural gas. gas. Congress and the federal govIt’s coming out our ears. You don’t ernment have figured out that natneed to go look for other types of ural gas could be significant in natural gas, but for biomethane now, transportation. I like the momenthe technology is improved, the tum and I like the level of support. We’re totally night and day difcleanup technology has improved, and the environmental economics ference, even from where we were of that fuel make it pretty attractive, two years ago. And, of course, two and for certain of our customers, it’s years ago it was night and day from really important. We’ve created a where we were two years before that. new Clean Energy Renewable Fuels division, headed up formally by Harrison Clay. It’s his full time job and he’ s tapped up now with several new people, in development of biomethane projects. F&FST: How important was the UPS LN G deal in Truck fueling at the Port of Long Beach. Las Vegas? Clean Energy can produce 160,000 gallons AJL: UPS has one of the of liquefied natural gas per day 135 miles largest fleets and most people away in Boron, Calif.
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Gaseous Fuel Vehicles from GM General Motors ( Booth 414 ) began offering dedicated-compressed natural gas vans last year and in February added propane. GMC Savana and Chevrolet Express vans are being upfitted by Productive Concepts International, an Indiana outfit that was almost immediately acquired and folded into Impco Automotive (Booth 125). An initial major order of 101 units for AT&T was disclosed late in February. The Express and Savana CNG vans are covered by GM’s three-year, 36,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty. They are both U.S. EPA and California Air Resources Board-certified. The CNG vans get gasoline gallon equivalent fuel economy of 11 mpg city and 16 mpg highway. Fuel tank
capacity ranges from 15.8 to 23 gasoline-equivalent gallons. GM has launched a propane-liquefied petroleum gas option on the 2012 Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana cutaway 3500 and 4500 vans – allowing operators “to choose from 2,604 LPG fueling stations nationwide,” the automaker says. GM has tapped Knapheide Manufacturing in Missouri to install two different LPG systems into the 159” wheelbase vehicles: “CleanFuel USA ( Booth 430 ) and Bi-Phase Technologies serve as tiertwo suppliers for the 49- and 75gallon capacity LPG fuel system, respectively,” GM says. “Our customers won’t have to waste time managing a conversion process,” said GM fleet chief Brian Small. The propane vans will have GM’s 6.0-liter hardened Vortec engine.
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Mike Jones and Mike McGarry of General Motors Alternative Fuels
New Gaseous Fuels Buy-Downs by CEC The California Energy Commission has kicked off a $14.54 million buy-down for gaseous fuel vehicles in the state. The planned outlays include • $10,190,000 for natural gas vehicles, excluding school and transit buses; • $2,350,000 for propane vehicles, excluding school and transit buses; and • $2,000,000 for propane school buses. Applications for the new ARFVTP – Alternative and Renewable Fuels and Vehicle Technology Program – will be accepted until April 2013 or until the money is gone, CEC says, noting that funding could be raised to $30 million. The agency has instituted a reservations system whereby individual manufacturers may apply for multiple incentives. CEC strategist Peter Ward is moderating the Infrastructure session this morning, with presentations on natural gas, hydrogen, propane and electricity CEC strategist Peter Ward as motor fuels.
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Galileo from Argentina for CNG Buenos Aires-based Galileo is promoting its broad range of compressor installations for CNG fueling at Booth 236 . The company is a major player in Argentina and elsewhere in Latin America, with export credits including a CNG fueling station (with 46 hoses said to be the world’s largest) in Singapore and, more recently, Europe’s largest, in Madrid. Products range from the Galileo Nanobox plug-and-play CNG compressor package to large fleet-suitable Microbox and Microskid packages, and the EM line of CNG dispensers. Galileo also manufactures “virtual pipeline” systems for the over-the-road transport of CNG in areas lacking a pipeline infrastructure. Galileo CEO Osvaldo del Campo is to discuss Coming to America: International CNG Equipment for the U.S. at the Infrastructure session this morning.
SNAPSHOTS
It’s Official: BAF Is a Ford QVM The BAF Technologies unit of Clean Energy Fuels was designated early this year as a Qualified Vehicle Modifier of gaseous-fueled vehicles by Ford (Booth 318). The QVM approval process involves Ford scrutiny of the aftermarket vendor’s design, manufacturing and quality control processes. “In-depth evaluations by Ford include crash testing, demonstrated commitment to continuous quality improvement, and reviews of representative vehicles and customer support systems,” Clean Energy-BAF said. BAF capabilities include aftermarket compressed natural gas conversions of Ford-manufactured vans, cutaway shuttles, taxis, pick-ups and light-duty trucks. Bi-fuel conversions were added to the mix in February. BAF is at Booth 210.
Icom-Jasper for Diesel-LPG Dual Fuel
Galileo compressors and CNG dispenser at Cnergy station on Old Toh Tuck Road in Singapore. Note TK-17 pistol-grip nozzle by Germany’s Weh (Booth 137) at right.
Rails by Rail for Gaseous Fuel Vehicles Italy’s Rail SpA is promoting its broad line of sequential injectors for natural gas and propane-LPG at Booth 326, noting that the products are suitable for dedicated, bi-fuel and dual fuel vehicles. A Rail injector block dubbed IG6 Taurus is designed specifically for
heavy duty diesel engine conversions. Rail also supplies accessories and components for gaseous fuel vehicles, including filters, nozzles, LPG/CNG solenoid valves, multivalves, copper pipes, rubber hoses, and LPG and CNG regulators.
New Leaf Biofuel’s Biodiesel New Leaf Biofuel is promoting its made-from-grease biodiesel at Booth 231. “We’re the only biodiesel plant in San Diego,” says New Leaf ’s Cal Clark, who explains that the firm collects its raw material from area restaurants, and adds methanol and other ingredients for an esterification process to make a more diesel-compatible product. Capacity is about 2 million gallons of B100 per year. The City of Chula Vista is a New Leaf customer, Clark says, and the company is in talks with Sysco Foods as well. B20 made with New Leaf product is available to consumers via San Diego’s Pearson Fuels. New Leaf Biofuel operations VP Dave Richards, executive VP Portia Smith, CEO Jennifer Case, and plant manager Tyler Case
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Icom North America (Booth 345) and the Jasper Alternate Fuels unit of rebuild specialist Jasper Engines & Transmissions are promoting a new mod allowing International’s DT466 engine to run on a 50-50 blend of diesel and LPGpropane. “The industry has been looking for a unit like this that can provide an increase in power and torque plus a cutback of 50% of the diesel fuel expense,” says Jasper Alternate Fuels division manager Ed Zoglman. “We tried this in the early 90’s, and while we realized a gain in power, our customers were looking for fuel savings and cleaner emissions. This system has both,” he said. “50% cutback in diesel, 15% more power in horsepower and torque, 50% less NOx and CO,” Zoglman told F&FST. Jasper Alternate Fuels has more than 55 installation centers in the U.S. doing propane (and CNG) vehicle conversions. An upfit package for the new 11.9-liter Cummins ISX is planned as well.
CNG Kenworth T440s for Alagasco “Alagasco is walking the walk when it comes to CNG,” says Kenworth (Booth 344). The 160-year-old utility, which has grown from a gas street lamp outfit to Alabama’s largest distributor of natural gas, has added seven CNG-fueled Kenworth T440s to its fleet. Alagasco’s T440s are powered by the 8.9-liter ISL G engine from Cummins Westport (340), with maintenance-free, three-way catalyst. The engine is 2010 EPA- and California-compliant with neither SCR nor DPF (selective catalytic reduction/ diesel particulate filter). The two Kenworths on show here are both LNG-fueled: a T440 dressed for Coca-Cola with the ISL G engine, and a T800 tractor with AeroCab sleeper powered by the Westport Innovations (232) Westport HD 15-liter engine and fuel system. CNG Kenworth T440s haul lowboys to transport backhoes.
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Propane Locks Down California Qualifications Propane autogas, also known as LPG (liquid petroleum gas) fuels more than 270,000 on-road vehicles today in the United States, according to the Energy Depar tment, including light- and medium-duty pickup trucks, vans, shuttles, taxis, delivery vehicles, and school buses. In the past 20 months, the Propane Education & Research Council (Booth 524) and its manufacturing partners developed nearly a dozen new on-road vehicle
propane autogas for increased efficiency and higher combustion. The high performance of vehicles fueled Brian Feehan of PERC by propane autogas is consistent Fleets & Fuels ShowTimes: Which U.S. across all PERC partner relationmanufacturers offer vehicles fueled ships. For example, liquid propane by propane autogas? What growth autogas injection systems offer the do you see in the market? How is the same horsepower, torque, and towing capacity rating as gasolineindustry supporting this market? Brian Feehan: Propane autogas is the fueled equivalents, while reducing leading alternative fuel in the United emissions. Light- and medium-duty trucks States, and the nation’s third-most fueled by propane autogas emit up commonly used on-road vehicle fuel after diesel and gasoline. In part due to 17% fewer greenhouse gases with to the availability and portability of 20% less nitrogen oxide, 60% less the fuel, there are many manufactur- carbon monoxide, and fewer particers developing liquid propane auto- ulate emissions than gasoline-fueled gas injection systems today. They vehicles. These lower emissions help include CleanFuel USA (Booth 430), provide fleet managers solutions to meet sustainability goals. and Roush CleanTech (624). Aftermarket systems are in devel- F&FST: What refueling options are opment by Alliance AutoGas and available? Impco/BRC ( 125 ), among other BF: Ease of refueling has accelerated the growing use of vehicles fueled by companies. The North American market for propane autogas. Many fleet manvehicles fueled by propane autogas agers are realizing the advantages of is gaining momentum as more fleet installing an on-site refueling inframanagers become aware of the en- structure, like a portable propane vironmental and economic advan- autogas refueling platform, also tages. PERC helps spur this growth known as a skid-mounted system. Skid-mounted propane autogas through research, development, and commercialization support. It also refueling offers several benefits for encourages the safe and efficient use fleet managers: of propane autogas through wide- • They can be installed, removed, ranging programs focused on safety and relocated quickly and easily; and training. PERC’s collaboration • They require no permanent with manufacturers, researchers, changes to the installation site; and government partners strength- • They ensure safe refueling of fleet ens technical knowledge and maxi- vehicles fueled by propane autogas mizes investments in developing by trained operators; and, • They provide an affordable way new vehicles and systems. F&FST: What performance level are to test the need for refueling stations fleet managers experiencing with at various locations without investvehicles fueled by propane autogas? ing in permanent structures. Underground storage tanks are BF: Understanding the need and expectation for high-performance also an option for longer-term use. vehicles, PERC’s manufacturing Propane autogas providers can help partners calibrate engines fueled by fleet managers determine the best 16
platforms fueled by propane autogas, many of which are displayed on the ACT Expo show floor. Fleet managers can experience the per formance of vehicles fueled by propane autogas, including a cutaway Ford E-450 van and Ford Expedition in the ride-and-drive portion of the show. We offer the following on vehicles fueled by propane autogas from PERC VP Brian Feehan.
on-site refueling option. F&FST: Is the propane industry paying more attention to California given the emergence of dedicated liquid injection technology? BF: PERC supports the research and development of promising propane autogas technologies across the country. The development of liquid propane autogas injection systems for on-road vehicles applies to propane autogas products – and those products are sold nationwide. Over the past few years, PERC partner manufacturers have introduced nearly a dozen vehicle platforms with liquid propane autogas injection systems to the market, increasing fleet vehicle options for fleets. These systems comply with the strictest standards and have all
May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at ShowTimesDaily.com
been certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the U.S. EPA, and can be sold and operated in all 50 states. F&FST: Will the new EPA regulations on aftermarket conversions make it easier to bring more vehicles fueled by propane autogas to market? BF: Absolutely, PERC supports EPA’s new streamlined regulations for the aftermarket vehicle conversion process. EPA’s new regulatory approach introduces flexibility for all alternative fuel system manufacturers. Expanding vehicle product availability for fleet managers allows them to choose from an array of vehicle options. The expansion of product availability will be an enabler for continued growth in the propane autogas market.
Blue Star marketing director Darren Engle (front) and sales rep Larry Sprague with propane vehicles.
Blue Star Gas in Salem West Coast propane pioneer Blue Star Gas has added a second propane fueling station in Oregon, augmenting a Medford installation announced in February with a card-lock station in Salem. “As the flagship West Coast autogas provider for the Alliance AutoGas network, Blue Star Gas’s Salem station makes this ecofriendly, American-made fuel a viable alternative for Oregon fleets,” the company said. “We are eager to help area fleets get up and running on clean, cost-effective propane autogas,” says Blue Star marketing director Darren Engle.
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Balqon CEO B. Samra with pure battery electric XR E20 tractor
Balqon for Electric Tractors “It’s turning into a commercial argument,” says Balqon CEO Balwinder Samra. Given the rising cost of diesel fuel, “We are one generation of battery away from the tipping point where there will be mass adoption.”
“We believe the time is right.” Samra is talking about battery electric vehicles and, more specifically, battery electric terminal tractors. Balqon is showing its very latest at Booth 536, the XR E20 (the X is for extended range),
capable of doing two terminal or warehouse shifts (or 150 miles) on a single charge of its lithium ion batteries. Samra told F&FST here that Balqon has in recent weeks shipped three of the Autocar-chassis vehicles to an unnamed automotive warehousing and manufacturing customer. Balqon uses Thunder Sky batteries from China’s Winston Global Energy, which Samra says holds a 42% equity stake in Balqon. The Balqon tractors are powered by 200-horsepower AC vector duty motors with proprietary liquid-cooled thrust vector controllers with integrated CAN BUS and self diagnostics. Working with an undisclosed partner, Balqon has come up with a fastcharger for the battery tractors, a 320-volt unit consisting of 16 modules, capable of continued operation, albeit more slowly, if one should fail. Samra notes that with fuel prices higher outside the U.S., some 80% of his
business is export. He cites as examples Turkey (with diesel at $10.20 per gallon) and India ($7.50). In India, he says, “We can justify the premium cost of an electric vehicle in about 18 months.”
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300 Balqon Drives for China Trucks Balqon early this year disclosed an order for 300 electric drives from a key equity partner, Shenzhenbased Winston Global Energy. The drives, sold for approximately $53,000 per unit, will be used for a fleet of 15- to 40-passenger buses to be of fered to local private and gover nment fleet operators in China. Harbor City, Calif.-based Balqon says it expects the $15.9 million order to create about 150 jobs in Los Angeles County during the next 18 months.
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Trillium at WMATA Freightliner M2 with SCI fuel cylinders
SCI’s Long Reach in CNG Cylinders Structural Composites Industries, a unit of industrial cylinder manufacturer Wor thington Industries since 2009, is promoting its lightweight compressed natural gas fuel cylinders at Booth 448. SCI makes Type III CNG tanks, indicating carbon fiber on an aluminum liner. SCI also offers fuel cylinders for compressed hydrogen, and cryogenic tanks for liquefied natural gas and for liquid hydrogen as well. Counting such SCI products as pressure vessels for fire-fighter breathing equipment, aerospace and medical applications, scuba diving and paintball, the firm has passed the 4-million-unit mark, with nar y a failure, says product group manager John Coursen. SCI has produced 175,000 CNG tanks. The company supplies the fuel cylinders for American Honda’s Civic Natural Gas (formerly known as the Civic GX;Booth 312), supplies bus manufacturers including Daimler’s Thomas Built (Booth 824), North American Bus Industries and NABI’s Blue Bird unit, often via fuel system assembly specialists like Agility Fuel Systems (Booth 229). A standout example is the Agility rig with SCI tanks on the 182 Freightliner M2 trucks for Ryder System (above). SCI is expanding its cylinder production in Pomona, Calif. by some 33%, Coursen says. Plans include a dedicated area for CNG and other alt fuel products. SCI parent Worthington manufactures Type I steel CNG cylinders in Tilbury, Ont., and Type I and Type II steel hoop-wrapped tanks in Kienberg, Austria. Wor thington acquired a 60% stake India’s Nitin Cylinders late last year and noted that in addition to India, Nitin sells cylinders in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Britain, Singapore and Malaysia.
Salt Lake City-based Trillium USA is providing operations and maintenance services to WMATA, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, for two facilities that fuel more than 460 CNG buses a night. And last year , according to Bill Zobel, Trillium’s senior VP for business development, Trillium added a 10-year contract with San Diego Metropolitan Transit Authority to upgrade and operate its three CNG stations that fuel 407 buses every night. Trillium (Booth 424) made some immediate improvements there, reducing fill times by 40-60% with very little physical change. This had an immediate impact on the agency’s expenses, cutting overtime and making it unnecessary for some buses to return for refueling during the day. While Trillium has a strong, 14-year history in transit services, it is increasingly looking to offer turnkey CNG infrastructure solutions to fleet operators across the country, enabling them to convert to CNG by offering to design, build and operate the necessary fueling installations. Zobel said Trillium is working with vehicle converters on the marketing side, and can even arrange
Bill Zobel, senior VP for business development at Trillium USA
financing for leasing. “We are looking at several fleets and regions in the Northeast. In fact we are putting in one proposal today,” he told F&FST. In another expansion of its business, Trillium is looking at building a couple of retail fueling stations of its own. It already operates three, in Anaheim, Berkeley, and at the San Francisco airport, and is about to pick up a fourth from a municipality in the Los Angeles area. Zobel declined to give details, save to say, “It’s a very nice operation” and will fit well into Trillium’s growth plans. “We’re moving into a much more diverse set of assets than in the past,” Zobel said.
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FLEETS & FUELS
700 More CNG Buses for L.A. LA Metro is looking to buy 700 new compressed natural gas fueled 40-foot transit buses. The LA Metro Board approved the action on March 24. The agency hopes to have proposals in hand by June or July, and staff plans a rigorous analysis before making a vendor recommendation by year-end. LA Metro wants “highly durable vehicles that will help reduce maintenance and operating costs,” states a March 17 memo. Looking to the future, LA Metro will float an additional solicitation, likely by June, for approximately 30 super low emission or even zero emission buses, following a proposal by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, an agency board member. The city’s “transition from diesel to CNG buses was not made for economic or business reasons,” the Villaraigosa motion notes. It was made “for public policy reasons, namely to reduce emissions (particulate matter, nitrous oxides, and sulfur oxides) and improve public health.” “We’re going to look at a number of factors beyond just price,” confirms vehicle acquisition and new technology manager John Drayton. All sorts of technologies are canThe new ones may well look different didates, including hydrogen for fuel cells or for running internal combustion engines, and plug-in hybrids. “There are some exciting things coming,” Drayton says. LA Metro recently retired its last diesel bus (F&F, January 17). Fleets & Fuels, March 28
NatGasCar’s CNG Dodge Pickups Cleveland-based NatGasCar received the manufacturer withdrew from the formal U.S. EPA certification of its “Eco- market in 2002. wise” brand dedicated-compressed natNatGasCar is using Bosch injectors, ural gas and CNG-gasoline bi-fuel kits an ITT Conoflow regulator, and Type IV for 2010 and 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 CNG fuel cylinders from Lincoln Comand Dodge Dakota pickposites and Quantum. ups – and the Mitsubishi The bi-fuel vehicle also Raider – with 4.7-liter V-8 features a proprietary inengines. jection device to manage They are believed to be the gasoline-methane mix, the first Chr ysler prodsays NatGasCar president CNG for Dodge-lovers ucts to be available as Bradley Trembath. natural gas vehicles in the U.S. since F&F, February 28
Gaseous Fuels for Canada Post Canada Post has converted 20 Ford Transit Connect vehicles to gaseous fuels, ten to compressed natural gas-gasoline bi-fuel and ten to propane-gasoline bifuel operation. The upfits were handled by Mississauga, Ont.-based Farmbro using Landi Renzo engine hardware and CNG and propane fuel tanks by Faber and Canada’s Sleegers, respectively. Canada Post last year bought 1,175 gasoline T ransit Connects. The agency has also purchased four eStar (ex-Modec) battery trucks, the first all-electric step vans in its fleet (F&F, April 11), three of which are being deployed in Vancouver. Canada Post operates 23 hybrids, including five Ford E450-based, Balance brand parallel-drive vehicles by Azure Dynamics, and a mix of Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles. “Our focus at the current time is to determine the operability of the vehicles,” says fleet manager Ron Thibert. F&F, April 25 20
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Hydraulic Hybrids for New York City The New York City Department of Sanitation has placed a purchase order for ten LE613 vehicles from Mack Trucks with HRB (hydrostatic regenerative braking) hydraulic hybrid drivetrains from Bosch Rexroth, which has 34 refuse trucks of various types with the HRB drive in worldwide service. New York expects to receive its hybrid Macks toward the end of the Bosch Rexroth’s HRB year. The Department is looking to buy as many as 300 hydraulic hybrids over the course of three years, as it sees the technology as being more technologically ready than electric hybrids for the heavy duty application F&F, ( January 3). Fleets & Fuels, April 11
CNG Freightliners for Foodliner Iowa-based Foodliner, which operates some 600 tractors, is applying a $200,000 DoE grant through Chicago Clean Cities to deploy six Class 8 CNG Freightliner trucks. They’ll fuel at public-access GTI station in Des Plaines, Ill. F&F, February 14
Thomas Built for LPG School Buses Daimler’s Thomas Built is developing propane-fueled Type A school buses as well as previously reported Type C vehicles. “Thomas Built Buses is committed to offering its customers a robust line of alternativepowered products and is working to introduce both T ype A and C propane buses in 2012 to complement its Type C hybrid-electric and Type D CNG buses” (shown), Thomas Built president Kelley Platt confirmed. F&F, March 28
Taking the Count The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the International Gas Union are pooling their efforts to compile a country-by-country count of natural gas vehicles, with totals to be presented at IGU’s 25th World Gas Congress in Kuala Lumpur in June 2012. F&F, March 28
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Clean Air Power on a ProStar Making a surprise appearance here powering an International ProStar+ truck is Clean Air Power’s dual-fuel diesel/natural gas technology on a 13-liter MaxxForce “Big Bore” engine. The technology demonstrator runs on 20% diesel and 80% natural gas, and meets the U.S. EPA’s 2010 emissions rules without SCR, John Pettitt, CEO of San Diego-based Clean Air Power, told ShowTimes. His company is partnered with Navistar International to prove that the technology makes economic sense in the U.S., especially with the $1.50+ price differential between the two fuels and burgeoning domestic supplies of methane with the emergence of shale gas. Both companies are investing in the project with a view to bringing it to market for heavy trucks. “Now we need Navistar to say yes, and you’ll see a heckuva lot more of these trucks,” Pettit says. “Especially as in the U.S. we now have the economics.” The technology is not new. Clean Air Power uses diesel to ignite the natural gas, utilizing
Clean Air Power CEO John Pettitt with dualfuel Big Bore.
the engine manufacturer’s stock fuel system to inject the diesel, and its own to add the gas. The ratio is computer controlled, optimized for the engine torque being developed. Pettitt says that competitors’ dual-fuel systems mix diesel and gas in a single injector, and are more complex – and more expensive. CAP has delivered some 1,800 systems around Pettitt plans to put it into production on its the world since 1998. The modified engines are in 13-liter diesel/methane engine in the second half use in Australia on heavy trucks that can travel up of this year. to 1,500 miles between fuel stops. Another 252 are in operation on Caterpillar-engined refuse trucks operated by the City of Los Angeles. Clean Air Power and Navistar’s target in the U.S. is the heavy A spark-ignition variant of the Maxxforce Big regional truck market, where they are aiming for Bore may be in the offing too, as Emission a range of up to 400 miles on a single 60-diesel galSolutions, Inc. which has commercialized lon equivalent tank of liquefied natural gas. a dedicated-natural gas version of InternaPettitt says CAP has invested several million tional’s 7.6-liter engine, is working on a dollars in its partnership with Navistar, and 13-liter variant as well, with pending supthat eventual spending on the project by both port by DoE-NREL, the California Energy Comcompanies will likely reach eight figures. mission, and the South Coast Air Quality The latest application of Clean Air Power’s Management District, an ACT Expo sponsor. technology is by Volvo, which according to
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online at www.ShowTimesDaily.com • Convention & Tradeshow News • May 5, 2011
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JC Carter’s Ice Breaker nozzle features ‘a three-latch innovation that shears away ice.’
ADVERTISER INDEX Scan QR codes with your smar tphone for more information.
Agility Fuel Systems agilityfs.com page 7 BAF Technologies baftechnologies.com page 6 Bauer Compressors bauercomp.com page 13 Baytech Corporation baytechcorp.com page 21
JC Carter Locks in Ice Breaker Name California’s JC Carter (Booth 126) early this year locked in the tradename Ice Breaker for its nearly ubiquitous nozzle for liquefied natural gas vehicle fueling. The Ice Breaker design allows for easy and immediate disconnection when LNG fueling is completed, despite the buildup of frozen condensate that makes it hard to disconnect competing nozzles until the condensate melts. The JC Carter nozzle features “a three-latch innovation that shears away ice,” says product manager Sam Safi. “It’s much more efficient than nitrogen purging or manually breaking away ice to disconnect a refueling nozzle.”
“Clean energy fuel station owners and operators appreciate the ability to service more commercial vehicles in a day. Using the Ice Breaker,” Safi said, “the average commercial vehicle refuels in less than 5 minutes.” A new seal and poppet design ensure problem-free operation. The LNG nozzle is opened and closed for connection using double-handled scissors. The receptacle mounts on the tank of the LNG vehicle. For added safety, both the nozzle and receptacle incorporate independent shut-off valves which prevent LNG flow if a forced separation occurs.
GPS Insight for Greener Fleets GPS Insight (Booth 122) promises fuel savings as great as 25% by applying GPS tracking technology to fleet management, as the technology allows for r oute optimization, reduced idling, and more effective maintenance scheduling. “We help reduce fleet emissions by limiting speeding and idling, incr easing route efficiency, eliminating unauthorized usage, and scheduling maintenance reminders,” says GPS Insight marketing manager Ryan Driscoll. “When fleets use less fuel from reduced speeding, idling, and inef ficient driving, they decrease the amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere and save on fuel and maintenance costs.” GPS Insight software allows easy comparison of different type of vehicles in a fleet. It may be readily adapted to compare performance of alt fuel or hybrid with conventional vehicles.
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May 5, 2011 Convention & Tradeshow News • online at www.ShowTimesDaily.com
Clean Energy cleanenergyfuels.com page 24 Freightliner freightlinertrucks.com page 11 Green Alternative Systems greenalternativesystems.com page 19 Hino Trucks hino.com page 9 Landi Renzo USA landiusa.com page 21 Lincoln Composites lincolncomposites.com page 17 Mansfield Gas Equipment Systems cngfuelsystems.com page 2 Parker parkerhybrid.parker.com page 23 Quantum Technologies qtww.com page 7 Roush CleanTech roushcleantech.com page 15 Trillium trilliumusa.com page 5 Wondries wondries.com page 8
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