Propane powered vehicles produce cleaner air

Williamson County will soon ac quire 10 additional propane powered trucks as part of a pilot program aimed at promoting domestically produced, environmentally friendly vehicles. Cedar Park City Councilmember and Ferrell Gas regional manager, Tony Dale, recently gave some local officials including me and others a chance to drive one of the first propane-powered Ford F-250 trucks converted by ROUSH Performance. Jack Roush and Roush Racing have claimed championships in the Nextel Cup and other races. The company has propane conversion packages for a variety of vehicles. More info on ROUSH can be found at http://www.roushperformance.com

According to the Ferrell Gas website, http://www.ferrellgas.com, “Today, propane is the number one alternative fuel for the automotive sector, and it powers more than 8 million vehicles in more than 38 countries. The reason is clear. Propane provides fleet managers with a cost-effective, clean, safe, and reliable alternative fuel. Plus, more than 90 percent of all propane used in the United States is produced domestically, reducing our dependence on foreign fuel.” Furthermore,
• “Propane vehicles have the longest driving range of any alternative fuel – more than 250 percent farther than compressed natural gas, about 60 percent farther than methanol, and 25 percent farther than ethanol.
• Those who drive propane-powered vehicles say that there are no significant driving differences between dedicated propane vehicles and gasoline-powered ones.
• Propane vehicle tanks are constructed from carbon steel under code developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and are 20 times more puncture resistant and can withstand far more pressure than a typical gasoline, methanol, or ethanol tank.”
Plus…in a time where our region is facing possibly reaching non-attainment status from the Environmental Protection Agency, propane usage leads to much cleaner air, according to the company’s website:
• “Propane exhaust creates 60 to 70 percent less smog-producing hydrocarbons than gasoline (Southwest Research Institute).
• Compared to gasoline, propane yields 12 percent less carbon dioxide, about 20 percent less nitrous oxide, and as much as 60 percent less carbon monoxide (World Liquid Propane Gas Association, January 2003; California Energy Commission, January 2003).
• Propane cuts emissions of toxins and carcinogens like benzene and toluene by up to 96 percent compared to gasoline (Southwest Research Institute).
• Propane’s octane rating is 104, while premium grade gasoline’s is only 91 to 92, which allows for a higher compression ratio in the engine and greater engine efficiency. This leads to significant reductions in exhaust emissions like carbon monoxide.
• Propane is listed as an approved alternative fuel in the 1990 Clean Air Act and the Energy Policy Act of 1992. “

The expansion of propane vehicles to the county's fleet is part of a larger effort to improve public health by promote clean air. Williamson County is a part of the regional effort called the Clean Air Force. Commissioner Ron Morrison (R-Round Rock) and Commissioner Valerie Covey (R-Georgetown) serve as the county's representative and alternate on this important collaboration of local government, business, community and other interests. For more information, go tohttp://cleanairforce.org.

Vietnam, RoK talk natural gas vehicles

Enterprises and research institutions of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) discussed advanced technology for a natural gas vehicle (NGV) at the ASEAN-RoK forum which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on November 5.

 

Participants in the two-day forum, jointly held by the RoK-ASEAN Secretariat on NGV and Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, shared information and experiences in developing the natural gas production industry and proposed policies to encourage the use of natural gas for transportation.
Since the first taxi running on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was put into use in 2001, Vietnam now has a total of nearly 900 taxies and buses partly or fully run on LPG.

Cuu Long Petro Gas Service Transportation Joint Stock Company and Indochina Petroleum Transportation Joint Stock Company said all of their 551 taxies are fully running on LPG and refuelling at six out of 10 LPG filling stations nationwide.
An official of the RoK Environment Ministry, Hyoung Lull Jeon, said that since 2000, the country has boasted 20,000 buses and 465 rubbish vans running on LPG and 261 LPG filling stations.

The RoK plans to have 23,000 vehicles running on LPG and compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel by 2010 and 28,000 vehicles by 2012 apart from building 440 new gas filling stations.

The Difference between RON92, RON95, RON97, RON99 and NGV

This is my attempt to write my first blog related to automotive. Let's talk about the available fuels in Malaysia, shall we?

What is RON?
Well, RON means Research Octane Number and it refers to the ability of gasoline to auto burn or ignition inside the engine. Higher octane number refers to higher ability of the oil to fight auto ignition. Simply say, RON97 is harder to burn compared to RON95 and RON95 is harder to burn compared to RON92.
Higher octane number oil is basically designed for higher performance cars such as sport cars and racing cars. This is to avoid premature burning of oil inside the engine due to the auto ignition, which happens before the spark plug ignite the fuel. This phenomenon is known as Knocking (ignition).
Knocking is reduces the performance of vehicle. The right usage of octane number based on design and adjustment of engine will maximise the performance and effectiveness of the vehicle. Modern vehicles are equipped with knock sensor which enables it to adjust its combustion timing automatically according to the oil octane number to avoid knocking or premature ignition of oil.

A lot of people believed that RON92 petrol is the older oil and it is only suitable for older cars. Believe it or not, not all vehicles require high octane number petrol. You can check your vehicle fuel requirement inside the guide book of your vehicle or you can simply check the minimum octane rating at the back of the fuel lid cover of your vehicle. Most cars can still use RON92. As comparison, RON92 petrol is less powerful than RON95 and RON97. However, higher RON number does not means that it is more powerful. It means that it is harder to ignite. Besides that, it will cost you more for the fuel.

What is NGV?
NGV stands for Natural Gas Vehicle. NGV is a vehicle which runs on natural gas, a fuel which burns much more cleanly than gasoline. Natural gas can power existing cars, buses or trucks by converting the engines to a bi-fuel capability. To convert vehicles to natural gas requires installing a tank, fuel pressure regulators, and fuel lines. Most systems incorporate an electronic module which adjusts the engine to maintain comparable performance levels with either fuel. Fueling the NGV is a bit more complicated than fueling a conventional car. Drivers need to find a natural gas fueling station. NGV is supported by the government of Malaysia with incentives and legislation to encourage vehicles owner to use NGV.

Congressman Teague Has A Split Personality On Energy

Marita K. Noon

If there is one thing T. Boone Pickens knows how to do, it is make money. When T. Boone gets behind something, financial gain is the incentive. There is nothing wrong with making money, but his motives cannot be viewed as purely altruistic. When the price of natural gas was high, he advertised converting the world to wind power as wind power needs back-up base-load power and the only source that can ramp up and down quickly is natural gas. Now that natural gas prices are lower, he no longer promotes wind power. He is, however, pushing a new scheme to increase natural gas usage. Natural gas is a clean-burning fossil fuel, so using more natural gas is good.

However, when T. Boone partners with Congressman Harry Teague, one has to look askance. At best, Teague appears to be a bit schizophrenic.
While we do not currently know what version of cap and trade will pass through Congress-or even if any form will pass, we know that Teague voted for the Waxman/Markey Bill (AKA cap and trade). The purported goal of cap and trade is to get America off of fossil fuels by making their emissions taxable in some form-and therefore more expensive for the consumer. One variant of cap and trade basically eliminates coal from America's energy portfolio, which means our coal-fired power plants that provide about half of our base-load energy needs will all have to be converted to natural gas--additionally upping the price. So Teague has essentially voted to make natural gas--a fossil fuel his company helps produce--more expensive and then supports a bill (H.R. 1835) that would use taxpayer money to underwrite the conversion of vehicles from gasoline or diesel to natural gas. We the taxpayers will get hit on both sides of his efforts.
In addition to his apparent split personality, the opinion editorial produced jointly by the Teague/Pickens team has several other flaws.

In their proposal, they recommend tax incentives for converting fleets to be fueled by natural gas. On the surface this sounds good-we trade an imported fuel for a domestic one. The use of natural gas has already been tried in agricultural and oil field vehicles since the 60's and was not reliable.Yet, this is being tried in several government agencies as a way to be more environmentally friendly--even though the infrastructure is not there. To solve this, Teague/Pickens then encourage opening more NGV fueling stations. This will take years and years to make happen due to right-of-way issues, environmental regulations and excessive costs--which their approach would have underwritten by the taxpayer (as are, or course, the aforementioned tax incentives). By the time a NGV infrastructure could be functional, something totally different could be in place.

Another flaw is their idea that NGV will reduce our dependence of foreign oil. We currently use foreign natural gas and their plan would increase natural gas use--therefore using more from foreign sources. I am all for natural gas use and I support getting off of foreign fuels of all kinds. But switching our vehicles to NGV will not do that. What we need is to open up drilling options-for both natural gas and oil! Their op-ed cites a study indicating that the continental United States has enough natural gas reserves to last 118 years. That may be true, but how much are we currently allowed to access? Much of America's natural resources are off-limits due to environmental NIMBYism! With all of the nonconventional fuels coming online, I believe we could be almost energy independent now--or at least have energy security (meaning we get our fuels from friendly countries such as Mexico and Canada). But we must be able to access them.

Additionally the Teague/Pickens piece claims that natural gas burns cleaner and produces "virtually no particulate emissions." I agree that natural gas burns cleanly, but so do most other fuels today. America and Canada derive the largest single percent of energy from coal, yet they both have some of the cleanest air of the industrialized world. Wasn't Waxman/Markey about CO2, not particulate emissions? Come on Harry, make up your mind.
Teague's action in voting for Waxman/Markey was a vote to shut down fossil fuels when the next generation of fuel--whatever it may be--is not yet available. After all, as they state, "Wind and solar are not helping you drive to work in the morning."

Marita Noon is the Executive Director at CARE (Citizens' Alliance for Responsible Energy), the nonprofit organization working to educate the public and influence policy makers regarding energy, its role in freedom and the American way of life. Find out more at www.responsiblenergy.org. Note: The above is in response to a previously published op-ed

How Natural-gas Vehicles Work

Kermit the Frog once said, "It's not that easy bein' green." Although he wasn't referring to cars, his observation seems particularly appropriate for the auto industry today: Designing, developing and marketing "green" cars has not been an easy task, which is why gasoline-powered vehicles still rule the road and fossil fuels still account for almost 75 percent of the world's energy consumption. As gasoline prices soar and concern over harmful emission mounts, however, cars that run on alternate fuel sources will become increasingly important. A natural-gas vehicle, or NGV, is the perfect example of such a car -- it's fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly and offers a relatively low cost of ownership.

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Image Gallery

David McNew/Getty Images
A natural gas home refueling appliance, Phill, by FuelMaker is connected to a Honda Civic NGV­ natural gas vehicle. See pictures of alternative fuel vehicles.

This article will explain the basic idea of NGVs, look at the unique design challenges involved and examine the advantages and benefits of this technology.

LNG Strengthens Gas Supply Outlook – LNG is Hot

LNG is HOT: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies as a Vehicle Fuel
- Brussels, Belgium

The current level of global trade in LNG, according to the International Energy Agency, is anticipated to nearly double by 2020 and, potentially, triple by 2030 and beyond so the market for liquefied natural gas vehicles (L-NGVs) should strengthen concurrently as more countries incorporate LNG into their energy strategies. Noting this strong growth in LNG trading, EU Commissioner for Energy, Andris Piebalgs said on 1 October 2009 at the Eurogas Annual Policy Conference in Brussels, “With respect to the diversification of (natural gas) supply sources, the past five years have seen major progress. European companies have reacted to the decline in indigenous gas sources by embarking on new import pipelines and LNG terminals. In particular LNG terminals have opened up the potential for a much more flexible and competitive gas market. With further LNG terminals planned or under construction, such enhanced flexibility in the gas supply is likely to benefit also markets which are still dominated by few gas suppliers.”

The European Commission is playing its role to address emissions problems at port facilities and to incorporate LNG supply into the seaport and marine infrastructure.  The Maritime Gas fuel Logistics (Magalog), with Norwegian energy giant GASNOR in the lead, is attempting to establish an LNG supply chain in the Baltic region. The ports of, Bergen (Norway), Göteborg (Sweden), Stockholm  (Sweden), Lübeck (Germany) and Swinemünde (Germany) all are planning to set up terminals with LNG filling stations for freight ships and ferries. Lübeck is scheduled to be the first to have one, by 2012.

Jorgen Henningsen, former principal adviser to the Director General of the European Commission  Directorate General Energy & Transport (DG Tren) and currently the Senior Adviser on Energy and Climate Change at the European Policy Center in Denmark added, in remarks to Clean Fuels Consulting, “Expanding LNG import facilities in Europe add to the existing advantages of natural gas as a motor vehicle fuel: It is less CO2 intensive, it is cheaper than conventional fuel and much cheaper than other alternatives such as liquid biofuels, and it provides fuel diversification. Any concern about security of supply must now evaporate.”

Mr. Henningsen was the principal author of the landmark European Commission 2003 publication, “Market Development of Alternative Fuels,” which indicated that natural gas should replace as much as 10% of the transportation sector fuel by 2020.  Mr. Henningsen will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming workshop, “LNG is HOT: Opportunities, Challenges and Strategies as a Vehicle Fuel,” on the 3-4 December 2009 in Brussels where he will share his in-depth views about the role of LNG in the worldwide energy supply and demand chain.

Is Toyota Planning To Build a Camry CNG Hybrid?

December 31st, 1969 If you've followed any of the news coming out of the 2009 SEMA Show, the mecca for modified cars, you may have seen that Toyota's display included a modified version of the Camry CNG Hybrid it showed last fall at the Los Angeles Auto Show.The Toyota Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG, which pairs the classic Hybrid Synergy Drive system with natural gas propulsion, remains the sole alt-fuel hybrid we know of. But given that they've now shown it twice, in different guises, we wonder if Toyota might have a bigger commitment to CNG fuel than we knew.

 

Toyota Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG displayed at 2009 SEMA Show.

Legislation to encourage use of compressed natural gas (CNG) in vehicles was introduced this spring in the U.S. Senate (tax credits for buyers of natural-gas vehicles) and House of Representatives (R&D and natural-gas hybrids). Given the current Congressional debate over health care, it hasn't progressed very far as yet.

Toyota Surfrider Camry Hybrid CNG displayed at 2009 SEMA Show.

 

As for the show car, the formerly all-blue car now sports a green-and-blue wrap with Toyota and Surfrider logos courtesy of Street Image. Its "aggressive" bodykit features a custom front grill plus a unique rear bumper covering the tail pipe and exhaust system.

 

Ride height was lowered via an adjustable suspension, which lets the car hug the road on its 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside, custom Grey Suede and Black leather upholstery and interior lighting were added. To show off the alt-fuel aspect, the trunk has a viewing window to display the CNG fuel cylinders.

 

The Toyota Camry Surfrider CNG Hybrid uses twin CNG tanks in the trunk of a Camry Hybrid, whose gasoline 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and Hybrid Synergy Drive was adapted to run on it. The conversion was done by Metal Crafters, Fountain Valley, California.

 

Toyota Camry Hybrid CNG concept car, shown at 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show

 

Of the world's 10 million natural-gas vehicles, just 142,000 are on US roads. And you can buy only one NGV direct from a car dealer: the 2009 Honda Civic GX, of which roughly 2,000 are sold each year (more than half to fleets).

 

Natural gas offers the potential of reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, since 99 percent of the natural gas used in the country today comes from domestic and other American sources.

 

To underscore the company's commitment to the environment, Toyota partnered with the Surfrider Foundation, which educates surfers and does beach cleanup programs. Toyota will donate a civilian version of the car to the foundation at the end of the show.

 

Technorati Tags: Concept Cars,SEMA,Los Angeles Auto Show,natural gas,CNG,NGV

NGV – Environmental Friendly Gases

NATURAL GAS VEHICLES

Natural Gas vehicles have recently hit the newsstands, as a great way of fighting the specter of global warming. We are all painfully aware that cars are a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and actively seek ways of reducing their environmental impact. In many states, such as California, tough legislation, aimed at reducing the emissions of smog-causing gases is entering the statute books. Why not think about using natural gas vehicles now, before the last minute scramble, and enjoy the opportunity to bask in the knowledge that you are reducing your carbon footprint.
Many people are looking at Hybrid Electric Cars as the answer, but they are expensive, and use more gas than the average car. They also contribute so much carbon dioxide in their manufacture that they are a false hope. As a result, environmentally aware consumers are looking at natural gas vehicles as the best way forward. This technology requires only a simple conversion of existing vehicles to a cleaner burning fuel.

HOW DO NATURAL GAS VEHICLES WORK
The principle behind natural gas vehicles is simple, burning methane, CH4, rather than complex hydrocarbons, for powering the car. Without being too technical, methane is the most efficient hydrocarbon fuel, and produces the least carbon dioxide. If even half of the cars in North America converted, the reduction in CO2 emissions would be immense, along with the levels of smog causing gases.
The conversion is an easy process, and the number of qualified mechanics is growing rapidly. New cars are entering the marketplace, which can run on natural gas, ethanol enriched gasoline and pure gasoline, making refueling easy. It is simply a matter of fitting storage tanks in the trunk of the vehicle and installing injection nozzles in the engine, not a major undertaking.

WHAT ABOUT REFILLING?
Many countries, especially in South America, have adopted natural gas vehicles and have shown that setting up filling networks is not difficult. In addition, manufacturers have designed machines that will allow filling at home, great if you already have a natural gas supply installed. If not, many cities are investigating the possibility of developing an integrated network of filling stations. Even if you do find yourself running out of fuel, converted cars can still run on gasoline, so you will never be stuck miles away from home. Modern kits are usually Tri-fuel enabled, so your vehicle can run on bio-ethanol too, covering another environmental base.

BUT NATURAL GAS IS STILL A FOSSIL FUEL
It is, but natural gas vehicles offer a way of gently weaning consumers away from inefficient and dirty gasoline. Methane is cleaner and more efficient than gasoline. Many cities, in South America and SE Asia, have already converted their entire taxi fleet to natural gas, vastly improving the air quality in the city. Many US cities are going down the same route, so it is important to think about this now, or your old car may be banned from the cities. In London, for example, drivers have to pay steep congestion charges, but environmentally friendly vehicles attract discounts. Imagine Los Angeles without the smog, and you can see why local governments are pushing through these tough laws.
Finally, there is another source of readily available methane for powering natural gas vehicles, which truly fits the definition of a renewable energy source. Organic waste, such as manure and trash from landfills, gives off methane as it rots and decomposes. This is normally released into the atmosphere, and is a more powerful greenhouse gas than CO2. Siphoning it off for fuel prevents the gas from reaching the atmosphere, and this is a huge source of potential energy, not derived from fossil fuels. Companies in the UK are already using trucks powered with a bio-methane/diesel mix, reducing the emissions of carbon dioxide by up to 60%.

WHAT ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK?
Natural gas does carry a risk of explosion, as with most fuels, but is no more dangerous than gasoline or hydrogen. In fact, methane is a much safer option than gasoline. If methane leaks, it is lighter than air, so quickly disperses into the atmosphere. Gasoline, on the other hand, forms a dense vapor and builds up into a dangerous cloud, with a low flash point.

THE TIME IS NOW
Tough emission legislation means that natural gas vehicles are the cheapest option for meeting these targets. Cheap, easily refillable and safe, methane is the fuel of the future, and there is little excuse for not considering this option. Natural gas systems are easy to install, and you can rest, safe in the knowledge that you have done far more to reduce global warming than celebrities buying inefficient hybrid. cars.

NGV

Go for NGV more saver and good for environment

"NGV" redirects here. For the art gallery in Melbourne, Australia, see National Gallery of Victoria.

Fueling

2009 Honda Civic GX hooked up to Phill refueling system.
Brazilian flexible-fuel taxi retrofitted to run also as a GNV. The compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks are located underneath in the rear.

A natural gas vehicle or NGV is an alternative fuel vehicle that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) or, less commonly, liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a clean alternative to other automobile fuels. Worldwide, there were 9,6 million natural gas vehicles in 2008, led by Pakistan (2.0 million), Argentina (1.7 million), Brazil (1.6 million), Iran (1.0 million), India (650 thousand), Italy (580 thousand), China (400 thousand), and Colombia (280 thousand), with South America leading with a global market share of 39%. The US has 110,000 NGVs, mostly buses. Other countries where natural gas-powered buses are popular include India, Australia, Argentina, and Germany. In OECD countries there are around 500,000 CNG vehicles. In some countries, such as Armenia, a large percentage of the fleet has been retro-fitted for bi-fuel operation, reaching between 20 to 30% of the cars on the road.

Existing gasoline-powered vehicles may be converted to allow the use of CNG. An increasing number of vehicles worldwide are being manufactured to run on CNG. The Honda Civic GX is the only NGV commercially available in the US market. GM do Brasil introduced the MultiPower engine in August 2004 which was capable of using CNG, alcohol and gasoline (E20-E25 blend) as fuel, and it was used in the Chevrolet Astra 2.0 model 2005, aimed at the taxi market. In 2006 the Brazilian subsidiary of FIAT introduced the Fiat Siena Tetra fuel, a four-fuel car developed under Magneti Marelli of Fiat Brazil. This automobile can run on natural gas (CNG); 100% ethanol (E100); E20 to E25 gasoline blend, Brazil's mandatory gasoline; and pure gasoline, though no longer available in Brazil it is used in neighboring countries.

Despite its advantages, the use of natural gas vehicles faces several limitations, including fuel storage and infrastructure available for delivery and distribution at fueling stations. Natural gas must be stored in cylinders, whether it is CNG (compressed) or LNG (liquefied), and these cylinders are usually located in the vehicle's trunk, reducing the space available for other uses, particularly during long distance travel. As with other alternative fuels, natural gas distribution to and at fueling stations, as well as the number of stations selling CNG are other barriers for widespread use of NGVs.

NGV's can be refueled anywhere from existing natural gas lines. This makes home refuelling stations that tap into such lines possible. A company called FuelMaker has pioneered such a system called Phill Home Refueling Appliance (known as "Phill"), which they have developed in partnership with Honda for the American GX model.

Chemical Composition and Energy Content

Chemical composition

The primary component of natural gas is methane (CH4), the shortest and lightest hydrocarbon molecule. It may also contain heavier gaseous hydrocarbons such as ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10), as well as other gases, in varying amounts. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a common contaminant, which must be removed prior to most uses.

Energy content

Combustion of one cubic meter yields 38 MJ (10.6 kWh). Natural gas has the highest energy/carbon ratio of any fossil fuel, and thus produces less carbon dioxide per unit of energy.
[edit] Storage and transport
Typical CNG gas tank located in the trunk.

Transport

The major difficulty in the use of natural gas is transportation. Natural gas pipelines are economical, but are impractical across oceans. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are also used.

Storage

CNG is typically stored in steel or composite containers at high pressure (3000 to 4000 lbf/in², or 205 to 275 bar). These containers are not typically temperature controlled, but are allowed to stay at local ambient temperature.

LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) storage pressures are typically at or just above the local atmospheric pressure (0 to 30 lbf/in², or 0 to 2.1 bar). LNG is stored at temperatures as low as -260°F (-162°C). At these temperature and pressure conditions, natural gas is in a liquid state. Storage temperatures may vary due to varying composition and storage pressure. LNG is far denser than even the highly compressed state of CNG. As a consequence of the low temperatures, vacuum insulated storage tanks are used to hold LNG. These tanks are often referred to as dewars to credit the early cryogenic scientist Sir James Dewar.

Implementation

Buses powered with CNG are common in the United States.
Popular among taxi drivers, the Brazilian Fiat Siena Tetrafuel 1.4, is a multifuel car that runs as a flexible-fuel on pure gasoline, or E20-E25 blend, or pure ethanol (E100); or runs as a bi-fuel with natural gas (CNG). Below: the CNG storage tanks in the trunk.
CNG pumps at a Brazilian gasoline service station, Paraná state.

Natural gas vehicles are popular in regions or countries where natural gas is abundant, where the government choose to price CNG lower than gasoline.[4] The use of natural gas began in the Po River Valley of Italy in the 1930s, followed by New Zealand in the eighties, though its use has declined. At the peak of natural gas use, 10 percent of New Zealand's cars were converted, around 110,000 vehicles.[4] In the United States CNG powered buses are the favorite choice of several public transit agencies, with a fleet of some 130,000 vehicles, mostly buses.[2] India, Australia, Argentina, and Germany also have widespread use of natural gas-powered buses in their public transportation fleets.[4]

South America

CNG vehicles are common in South America, with a 39% share of the worldwide NGV fleet,[1] where these vehicles are mainly used as taxicabs in main cities of Argentina and Brazil. Normally, standard gasoline vehicles are retrofitted in specialized shops, which involve installing the gas cylinder in the trunk and the CNG injection system and electronics.

As of 2008 Argentina had 1,745,677 NGV's with 1,801 refueling stations across the nation,or 15% of all vehicles; and Brazil had 1,588,331 vehicles and 1,688 refueling stations,[1] with a higher concentration in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Bolivia has increased its fleet from 10,000 in 2003 to 99,657 units in 2008, with 123 refueling stations. Colombia had an NGV fleet of 280,340 vehicles, and 401 refueling stations as of 2008. Peru has 54,829 NGVs and 56 fueling stations as 2008, but that number is expected to skyrocket as Peru sits on South America's largest gas reserves. Other countries with smaller GNV fleets are Chile ( 8,064), Uruguay (20), and Venezuela (4,200).

Latest developments

GM do Brasil introduced the MultiPower engine in August 2004 which was capable of using CNG, alcohol and gasoline as fuel. The GM engine has electronic fuel injection that automatically adjusts to any acceptable fuel configuration. This motor was used in the Chevrolet Astra and was aimed at the taxi market.

In 2006 the Brazilian subsidiary of FIAT introduced the Fiat Siena Tetra fuel, a four-fuel car developed under Magneti Marelli of Fiat Brazil. This automobile can run on 100% ethanol (E100), E20 to E25 blend (Brazil's normal ethanol gasoline blend), pure gasoline (not available in Brazil), and natural gas, and switches from the gasoline-ethanol blend to CNG automatically, depending on the power required by road conditions.

Since 2003 and with the commercial success of flex cars in Brazil, another existing option is to retrofit an ethanol flexible-fuel vehicle to add a natural gas tank and the corresponding injection system. Some taxicabs in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, run on this option, allowing the user to choose among three fuels (E25, E100 and CNG) according to current market prices at the pump. Vehicles with this adaptation are known in Brazil as tri-fuel cars.

Southeast Asia

In Malaysia, the use of compressed natural gas was originally introduced for taxicabs and airport limousines during the late-1990s, when new taxis were launched with CNG engines while taxicab operators were encouraged to send in existing taxis for full engine conversions, reducing their costs of operation. Any vehicle converted to use CNG is labelled with white rhombus "NGV" (Natural Gas Vehicle) tags, lending to the common use of "NGV" when referring to road vehicles with CNG engine. The practice of using CNG remained largely confined to taxicabs predominantly in the Klang Valley and Penang due to a lack of interest. No incentives were offered for those besides taxicab owners to use CNG engines, while government subsidies on petrol and diesel made conventional road vehicles cheaper to use in the eyes of the consumers. Petronas, Malaysia's state-owned oil company, also monopolises the provision of CNG to road users. As of July 2008, Petronas only operates about 150 CNG refueling stations, most of which are concentrated in the Klang Valley. At the same time, another 50 was expected by the end of 2008.

As fuel subsidies were gradually removed in Malaysia starting June 5, 2008, the subsequent 41% price hike on petrol and diesel led to a 500% increase in the number of new CNG tanks installed. National car maker Proton considered fitting its Waja, Saga and Persona models with CNG kits from Prins Autogassystemen by the end of 2008, while a local distributor of locally assembled Hyundai cars offers new models with CNG kits. Conversion centres, which also benefited from the rush for lower running costs, also perform partial conversions to existing road vehicles, allowing them to run on both petrol or diesel and CNG with a cost varying between RM3,500 to RM5,000 for passenger cars.

There were about 400 CNG-fueled vehicles in Singapore in mid-2007, of which about 110 are taxis operated by Smart Automobile. By February 2008, the number has risen 520 CNG vehicles, of which about half are taxies. All vehicles had to refuel at the sole CNG station operated by Sembcorp Gas and located on Jurong Island until the opening of the first publicly accessible CNG station at Mandai in 2008, operated by Smart Automobile. The company plans to build another four stations by 2011, by which time the company projects to operated 3,000 to 4,000 CNG taxies, and with 10,000 CNG public and commercial vehicles of other types on Singapore's roads. Sembcorp Gas opened its second CNG station a week after the Mandai station at Jalan Buroh.

Thailand has for over a decade run natural gas taxi cabs in Bangkok. However, conversion in earnest has begun since oil prices have risen, and now thousands of private automobiles and public buses have converted. Natural gas vehicles in Thailand have reached 98,000 in 2008.

China

China has at year end 2006, 194,860 NGV's and 490 refueling stations. China's national reserves was 134 billion cubic meters at the end of 2007.[citation needed]