Green Cars, Hybrid Cars, Electric Cars and Clean Diesel News

UPS Buys 700 LNG Trucks

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:37:00 -0500

UPS announced the accelerated growth of its alternative vehicle fleet with plans to buy approximately 700 liquefied natural gas trucks and to build four refueling stations by the end of 2014.

Once completed, the liquefied natural gas (LNG) private fleet will be one of the most extensive in the U.S.

An initial investment of more than $18 million to build fueling stations will be supported by the purchase of these 700 LNG tractors and continued expansion of the natural gas fleet in the U.S. UPS already operates 112 LNG tractor trailers from fueling stations in Las Vegas, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz., and Beaver and Salt Lake City, Utah, and has its own LNG fueling station on its property in Ontario, Calif.

New UPS-built fueling stations in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis, Tenn., and Dallas, Texas, will serve its heavy-weight rigs traveling into adjacent states. With the addition of accessible LNG fueling stations, UPS also will add LNG trucks on routes from Dallas, Houston and San Antonio to further extend territory.

UPS has been operating natural gas vehicles for more than a decade. With natural gas prices 30-40 percent lower than imported diesel and U.S. production gearing up, the logistics company is investing more aggressively in the natural gas infrastructure necessary to make it part of the UPS delivery network here. Beyond favorable fuel cost and domestic resource access, the industry cites 25 percent less CO2 emissions.

Worldwide UPS has more than 1,000 natural gas vehicles on the road today. UPS's alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet of more than 2,600 vehicles also includes a wide array of low-emissions vehicles, including all-electrics, electric hybrids, hydraulic hybrids, propane, compressed natural gas and biomethane. Since 2000, the fleet powered by alternative fuels and technologies has driven more than 295 million miles.

UPS was a founding Interstate Clean Transportation Corridor (ICTC) fleet partner, a group that established publicly accessible LNG fueling stations in California, Las Vegas, and Utah. The ICTC steering committee includes eight government and regulatory agencies at the local, state and national levels.

ZAP Announces HYBRID CNG SUV

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:31:00 -0500

ZAP is adding a HYBRID Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an additional product in its line of New Energy Vehicles.

ZAP Jonway announced that it is launching its first HYBRID CNG vehicle with Jonway Auto's A 380 SUV.

This new CNG SUV, named CN 380 is focused on the accelerating growth in CNG vehicles in many developing countries and in the United States.

The HYBRID CNG engine in the CN 380 seamlessly allows the driver to utilize the regular gasoline engine when the CNG fuel is depleted, and also automatically uses the gasoline as fuel to run the engine when it is in a cold start state and the engine is warming up. The CNG tank capacity is the same as the gasoline tank, thus offering the driver double the amount of fuel available, inclusive of the existing gasoline tank which is used as the backup.

CN 380 SUV, based on Jonway Auto's A380 SUV, comes in either 1.6 L or 2.0L for manual transmission or the 1.8L for both automatic as well as manual transmission.

ZAP Jonway is now marketing and promoting this CNG product line for its international market, targeting South America initially where CNG fueling stations are popular; with the goal of addressing the U.S. market at some time in the future when the vehicle is fully type approved for the U.S.

Chrysler Begins Delivery of Ram 2500 CNG Pickup Trucks to State of Oklahoma

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 02:40:00 -0600

Chrysler Group has begun the delivery of 242 new 2013 Ram 2500 CNG pickup trucks to the state of Oklahoma, the Company’s largest customer order since production of the unique trucks began in October.

Peter Grady, Vice President of Network Development and Fleet – Chrysler Group LLC, presented the keys to one of the Ram 2500 CNG pickups to Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) in Oklahoma City.

The Ram 2500 CNG is the only OEM-built compressed natural gas-powered pickup truck in North America. ODOT will use the Ram CNG pickups primarily as service trucks on the state’s roads and highways.

The Ram 2500 CNG is a bi-fuel vehicle that uses compressed natural gas as its primary fuel source, but automatically switches to gasoline when the CNG tanks are emptied. In use, the Ram CNG transitions from one fuel to the other with little discernible difference in operation or capability.

In vehicles, CNG achieves nearly identical mileage figures as unleaded regular gasoline – with a retail cost more than 50 percent lower than the average price of a gallon of gasoline.

The Ram 2500 CNG system was fully engineered and tested by Chrysler Group and assembled at the company’s Heavy Duty truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico. Production of the Ram 2500 CNG began in late October in the Saltillo plant.

Ford Commercial Vehicle Lineup Expands with CNG/LPG-Ready Offerings

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:37:00 -0600

Sales of Ford vehicles capable of running on compressed natural gas or propane autogas have reached record levels, as businesses and commercial customers seek relief from constantly fluctuating gas prices.

In response to increased customer demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid propane gas (LPG) ready vehicles, Ford has expanded its portfolio of product offerings in this growing alternative-fuel market segment.

As gas prices continue to rise, CNG conversion can drastically lower vehicle operating costs for fleet administrators. CNG sells for an average of $2.10 per gallon, representing a significant savings over unleaded regular fuel, selling for a national average of $3.78 per gallon according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. As the commercial vehicle market leader, Ford aims to provide sustainable solutions for a broad spectrum of its fleet customers.

CNG is made by compressing natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 2,900 to 3,600 psi. About 85 percent of the CNG used in the United States is produced domestically. Depending on application and usage, businesses can see payback for CNG/LPG systems in as little as 24 to 36 months.

Another benefit of this alternative fuel: Cleaner emissions. CNG usage can result in up to 30 percent less greenhouse gas emissions according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Companies and fleet customers are also making long-term commitments to CNG. The city of Indianapolis, where this year’s NTEA Work Truck Show is being held, has committed to shifting its cars, heavy trucks and police cruisers to a mix of electricity and natural gas, aiming to eliminate use of conventional gas and diesel fuels by 2025.

Ford, the best-selling commercial vehicle brand in North America, will offer the all-new Ford Transit range of full-size vans, wagons, cutaway, and chassis cab models powered by a 3.7-liter V6 equipped with a CNG/LPG prep kit to assist customers running their vehicles with these abundant, affordable, clean fuels.

Transit joins the current compact Transit Connect van, wagon and taxi lineup; Ford Super Duty pickups; stripped chassis, legendary E-Series vans, wagons and cutaways; and medium-duty F-450, F-550 and F-650 variants in offering factory-prepped engines for CNG/LPG conversion.

The next generation of the Transit Connect range will add yet another CNG-ready engine when it goes on sale later this year, offering a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that is more responsive and fuel efficient due to its use of intake-variable camshaft timing.

Each Ford engine that is factory-prepped for gaseous conversion comes equipped with hardened valves and valve seats, and Super Duty trucks equipped with the 6.2-liter V8 feature a unique bi-fuel intake manifold to accommodate these cleaner-burning fuels.

CNG/LPG engine prep from the factory costs approximately $325 before the customer chooses a partner to supply fuel tanks, fuel lines and unique fuel injectors. Upfits run approximately $9,500 to $12,500, depending on fuel tank capacity.

The commercial truck market is composed of many unique vocations and vehicle requirements. Ford is collaborating with qualified upfitters to deliver completed vehicles under its Qualified Vehicle Modifier program.

SEAT Introducing Low-CO2 Mii Ecofuel

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 03:19:00 -0600

SEAT is expanding the Mii family with the introduction of the new SEAT Mii Ecofuel – the company’s lowest-emitting production car ever.

SEAT Mii Ecofuel runs on compressed natural gas (CNG), bringing outstanding efficiency and significantly reduced running costs without sacrificing the fun driving dynamics that the Mii is synonymous with.

The first model with a CNG engine to wear a SEAT badge, and making its debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show, the Mii Ecofuel boasts average consumption of just 2.9 kg CNG/100 km.

And because the fuel price over this distance is less than 3 Euros (approximately £2.60) in many countries, the running costs are approximately half those of a Mii with a petrol engine.

The 1.0-liter, 68 PS (50 kW) engine is based on the three-cylinder petrol unit found in the Mii (with 60 PS and 75 PS outputs), but it’s been specifically developed for CNG operation. Its CO2 figure of just 79 g/km is best-in-class.

At an entry price of €12,050 in Germany, the new SEAT Mii Ecofuel is the most inexpensive CNG model on the market. The outstanding value-for-money and low maintenance costs are typical for SEAT.

As in the petrol-driven models, the Mii Ecofuel version features a three-cylinder spark-ignition engine with a displacement of 999 cc. In the CNG variant, the compact power unit generates 68 PS at 6,200 rpm. The exceptionally lightweight and high-revving engine reaches its maximum torque of 90 Nm at 3,000 rpm. Its average fuel consumption of just 2.9 kg of CNG per one hundred kilometers and the associated CO2 figure of just 79 g/km are best-in-class.

The CNG engine in the SEAT Mii Ecofuel is technically very similar to the petrol engines, and also made from aluminum. To achieve optimum CNG operation, the three-cylinder engine has been modified in several areas.

An increase in compression ratio from 10.5:1 to 11.5:1 improves combustion efficiency in CNG operation. Because of the higher pressures and combustion chamber temperatures, the spark plugs now have a higher ignition voltage. The lower lubrication characteristics of gaseous fuels are compensated by different valves, as well as special guides and valve seats. The cam profiles and engine control unit are also modified.

In the new SEAT Mii Ecofuel, the ECU also handles the management of the gas injector valves and the electronic gas pressure regulator. Moreover, the engine control unit uses a lambda sensor to recognise the different qualities of ‘low gas’ and ‘high gas’, as they are sold on the German market in particular. When running on low gas, which has a lower calorific value due to its lower methane content, injection timing is adapted to suit.

Compared with conventional petrol, the combustion of CNG produces around one quarter less CO2, as well as significantly less carbon-monoxide and hydrocarbons. Fine particulates or soot are not emitted at all, although unburnt residual methane has to be converted by the catalyst. For this reason, the catalytic converter is equipped with slightly different precious metals.

Despite being specifically engineered to run on CNG, the Mii Ecofuel engine can also run on unleaded petrol. With a full CNG tank (11 kg), the Mii Ecofuel has a range of up to 240 miles; the reserve petrol tank (10l) extends the range by up to 140 miles. This means that, with a full tank, a total range of up to 380 miles is possible.

A special fuel level indicator in the instrument panel informs the driver of the level in both the gas and the petrol tank. The ranges available in both operating modes are also shown in the multi-function display.

Thanks to the tidy integration of the CNG technology into the vehicle architecture, there are virtually no restrictions on use and functionality – the only difference between this and the petrol models is the absence of a spare wheel well. The connector for filling up the SEAT Mii Ecofuel at any one of the increasing number of CNG fuel stations across Europe is located beneath the same flap as the petrol cap.

The SEAT Mii Ecofuel’s low consumption and emissions figures are achieved through standard fit fuel-saving Ecomotive Technology, including a Start/Stop system and a Brake Energy Recovery system. This is combined with a low kerb weight (956 kg, without driver), good aerodynamic characteristics (cw = 0.32; frontal area = 2.07 m2) and an efficiently matched engine/transmission combination. The high energy content of CNG also plays a key role: one kilogram of CNG has the same energy content as around 1.5 liters of petrol.

Initially, SEAT will introduce the Mii Ecofuel in markets such as Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Sweden and the Czech Republic where there is a clear demand for CNG fuelled cars and the infrastructure to support it.

There are currently no plans to sell the Mii Ecofuel in the UK, owing to lack of supporting infrastructure.

Iveco to Supply Natural Gas-Powered Vehicles to TNT Express Italy

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:32:00 -0600

Iveco will deliver 115 Daily Natural Power vehicles to TNT Express Italy by 2013, two companies said in a statement.

The natural gas-powered vehicles will be used by TNT for its express courier activities in the Rome area as well as other parts of Central Italy.

The supply of these vehicles will take place in several stages. The first and most significant delivery of 66 vans is taking place at the Iveco “Romana Diesel “dealership in Rome.

The Daily Natural Power is an efficient means of transport in terms of performance that is also ecologically and economically competent.

The New Daily Natural Power is equipped with a 100 kW, 3.0L, in-line 4-cylinder Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) Industrial CNG engine with three-way catalytic converter, using a stoichiometric combustion regime that results in exhaust emissions well below the European EEV limits.

The system can detect the composition of the gas used and is able to adapt the actual air/fuel ratio accordingly, in order to maintain low emissions without sacrificing performance.

The Natural Power version maintains the same high performance, power and torque of its Diesel counterpart, while allowing for an estimated fuel cost reduction of 40%. The vehicle also reduces CO2 emissions by 5-8% resulting in a vehicle performance that satisfies and surpasses the limits set by the Euro VI power legislation.

The noise levels are five decibels lower which results in 75% less overall audible perception and improves on-board driver comfort. The “Recovery Mode” option makes it possible to switch the power source to gas, allowing drivers to continue their journey in the event that the methane finishes.

The vehicles are equipped with a new generation ESP (Electronic Stability Program) system which includes an Anti-lock Braking System, Automated System Recovery and Hill Holder technologies. The presence of the ESP system allows for a payload capacity of 90 kilograms more than the Diesel version.

Iveco offers a complete range of natural gas-powered vehicles from the 3.5 tonne Daily Natural Power to the 16 tonne Eurocargo and the 40 tonne Stralis which is available with either Compressed Natural Gas or Liquefied Natural Gas.

Over 12,000 natural gas-powered Iveco vehicles are currently in circulation, used by both private businesses and public organizations, 5,000 of which are Daily models, 2,000 are medium and heavy range and 5,000 are buses.

Volkswagen Launches Eco Up!

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:31:00 -0600

Volkswagen has launched the eco up!, a small city car whose ecological footprint is considerably smaller than that of other vehicles, and it can run on both natural gas and biomethane.

The new Volkswagen eco up! is currently the world’s most fuel-efficient natural gas passenger car.

The four-seat Volkswagen consumes just 2.9 kg of natural gas (CNG = Compressed Natural Gas) per 100 km; this is equivalent to CO2 emissions of just 79 g/km.

This fuel efficiency leads to very low fuel costs: in Germany, the mentioned 100 km cost just over 3 euros in an eco up! that is available as a two-door or four-door; in Italy, the largest market for natural gas cars in Europe, the cost is even less than 3 euros. Today, it is not possible to drive any other all-round car this inexpensively!

One of the greatest benefits of natural gas cars like the eco up! is the fact that these models are not limited to being powered by just natural gas, but can also be powered by alternative fuels such as renewable biomethane. Produced from plant by-products, biomethane does not compete with food crops; it is also CO2-neutral, because the car only emits as much carbon dioxide in combustion as it absorbed while the plants were growing. Also true: new methods for producing biomethane – such as obtaining it from straw – will further reduce dependency on classic natural gas. An example: In Germany alone, according to a study by the German Biomass Research Centre in Leipzig, up to 13 million metric tonnes of straw remain unused each year. This biomass could theoretically power four million natural gas vehicles. A first facility for producing biomethane from straw has been operating in Germany since February 2012.

Gas also offers the opportunity of storing electrical energy from renewable sources such as wind power. This involves producing hydrogen by electrolysis, which can be used to operate future fuel cell vehicles. However, until this complex and expensive drive technology debuts on a broad scale, the hydrogen can also be used to produce methane in a second step of the process chain. In turn, the methane can be used as a fuel for cars such as the new eco up!. The world of fuel production and drive systems is on the verge of a revolution. In addition, this synthetically produced natural gas can also be used by gas-powered power plants to generate large amounts of electricity at any desired time. In this way, gas produced from wind energy can serve as a ‘battery’ for the wind power.

Two decades of Volkswagen with natural gas

Volkswagen has been equipping vehicles with natural gas drives since the beginning of the 1990s – at first as a retrofit in conjunction with the IAV subsidiary in Berlin. However, with the growth of natural gas cars, Volkswagen increasingly worked on original plant solutions. One of the goals here was to minimise the effects of natural gas tanks on interior space. The first new car model to be designed for natural gas was the 2002 Golf Estate 2.0 BiFuel – a natural gas powered vehicle of the compact class. Other important milestones followed in 2006 with the market launches of the Caddy 2.0 EcoFuel (Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles) and the Touran 2.0 EcoFuel – these two models extended Volkswagen natural gas drive into the versatile segments of city delivery vehicles and compact vans. In 2009, the Passat debuted as a pioneering 1.4 TSI EcoFuel – thanks to twincharging by supercharger and turbocharger, the new engine offered dynamic performance never before seen in the field of natural gas drives. In the same year, Volkswagen therefore adopted this drive system for the Touran as well; this EcoFuel engine also impressed in the new model generations of the Passat and Touran.

Today – at the end of 2012 – the company offers six natural gas powered vehicles in various classes: the Caddy 2.0 EcoFuel, the extended Caddy Maxi 2.0 EcoFuel (each 80 kW / 109 PS), the Touran 1.4 TSI EcoFuel, the Passat and Passat Estate 1.4 TSI EcoFuel (each 110 kW / 150 PS) and the entirely new eco up! (50 kW / 68 PS). In the upcoming year, the new Golf will also debut in an EcoFuel version. In this vehicle, Volkswagen is offering one of the world’s most versatile natural gas vehicle programmes.

Natural gas and biomethane are pioneering fuels

Natural gas exhibits a significantly higher energy content than petrol or diesel: 1.0 kg of natural gas is equivalent to 1.3 litres of diesel or 1.5 litres of petrol. The energy content of 1.0 kg natural gas amounts to 11.69 kWh; the associated quantity of diesel yields 9.86 kWh, the energy content of petrol is 8.77 kWh. In addition, gas offers the advantage that it can be obtained CO2-neutrally from alternative, renewable raw materials and then combusted: in the combustion of industrially generated biomethane, for example, – it has the same chemical structure as natural gas – the amount of CO2 released is equivalent to the amount previously absorbed by the plants during their growth. Crucial here is the fact that biomethane is obtained from plant by-products and not from the food produced by the plant, which excludes any sort of competition with the food chain.

On the path towards a future independent of fossil-based oil, natural gas and biomethane – as well as the fuels hydrogen and methane produced by electrolysis – will be important elementary building blocks. With new car models like the eco up!, great progress in the area of producing CO2-neutral gas and extending the refilling station infrastructure as well as governmental support for this type of clean drive will make it possible to significantly expand the share of gas vehicles in large areas of Europe.

In Germany, there are currently around 97,000 natural gas vehicles (as of mid-2012); in 2011, the inventory rose by 4.3 per cent. A look at Italy indicates that this share can be significantly increased under optimal constraints. On the other side of the Alps, the inventory of natural gas vehicles doubled from 382,000 to 785,000 cars between 2005 and 2011. Here natural gas vehicles are promoted with tax advantages, rebates in new car purchases, and exemptions from certain traffic rules. In addition, extension of the natural gas refilling station network is subsidised.

In Germany, however, the full potential has not yet been exhausted, although some natural gas providers already offer rebates of up to 1,250 euros for the purchase of a new car with a natural gas drive, the fuel costs less than petrol or diesel due to a reduced energy tax rate and the number of natural gas refilling stations has risen to 911 (as of October 2012). Given these facts, the fuel strategy of the Federal Republic of Germany assumes that the inventory of natural gas vehicles will rise up to 4 per cent by 2020 – that would be around 1.4 million vehicles. Compared to 2012, that would be an immense increase; the trend in Italy shows, however, that this is feasible.

Global natural gas reserves are estimated to be 525,000 billion m3 (as of 2009) and around 3,000 billion m3 of that amount is extracted annually. So, natural gas is finite as well. This makes a forecast by Berlin-based organisation dena related to the German market for natural gas vehicles for the year 2020 that much more important: “Even if the cited 4 per cent goal is reached, all natural gas vehicles could theoretically be powered with pure biomethane by the year 2020.”

By mid-2011, there were already 57 biomethane plants in Germany, which fed 64,000 standard cubic metres (std. m3/h) into the natural gas network per hour. Today, biomethane is blended at one-fourth of the available natural gas refilling stations in Germany; in addition, nearly 100 stations already offer pure biomethane. This number is the most of any country in the world. One of the technical leaders among producers of sustainably obtained biomethane in Germany is Verbio AG (Leipzig). The company specialises in producing biomethane from material such as manure, animal waste, biological wastes and straw – renewable sources that do not complete with food production. The company has developed a new type of bio-refinery that produces biomethane exclusively from stillage, a waste product of bioethanol production, and straw. Another way of obtaining gas from renewable materials has been practiced since early 2012: biomethane production from nothing other than straw. Verbio AG is the first company in the world to succeed at this.

Another expansion stage is offered by what is known as e-gas, which is also known as power-to-gas. As already described, in this case electricity is used to produce hydrogen by electrolysis, and in a second step the hydrogen is converted to methane. Together with a number of project partners - such as SolarFuel GmbH and the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (both in Stuttgart), the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy Systems Technology (Kassel) and EWE Energie AG (Oldenburg) - the Volkswagen Group found a way, for the first time, to store overcapacities of renewable electricity – e.g. from wind generators or solar power – on a grand scale. In the reverse direction, the stored gas can be used to power electrical generation plants. The electricity can then be used to drive electric cars – especially for drives over shorter distances –, or it can be used as a fuel for gas and fuel cell vehicles that can cover long distances. Another benefit is realised in the converting the electrolysis-generated hydrogen into methane: the conversion consumes CO2, ensuring that it is no longer emitted into the atmosphere as greenhouse gas – this methane will make cars like the eco up! even cleaner!

Chevrolet and GMC Bi-Fuel Pickup Production Begins

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 02:15:00 -0600

Production of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra 2500 HD bi-fuel pickup trucks is underway in Fort Wayne, Ind., and the pickups are available for order by fleet and retail customers through Chevrolet and GMC dealers.

The Silverado HD and Sierra 2500 HD Vortec 6.0L V8 engine runs on gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG) and seamlessly switches between the two fuels without affecting performance. The CNG and gasoline tanks have a combined range of 650 miles, the longest standard bi-fuel range of any original equipment automaker.

The Type-3 single-tank CNG system in the Silverado HD and Sierra 2500 HD is designed to retain more bed space than any competing bi-fuel truck from an Original Equipment Manufacturer. The pickups are available in standard and long-box and two-or-four wheel drive in the extended cab models.

The bi-fuel pickups are ordered from the factory, sent to the Tier One supplier IMPCO for installation of the CNG bi-fuel delivery and storage system and then delivered by GM transportation to the dealer or to an upfitter for customer-ordered modifications.

The bi-fuel option is priced at $11,000 above the suggested retail price of the base vehicle. The entire gaseous fuel system meets GM's strict quality, durability and safety testing. The trucks will be covered by GM's three-year, 36,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and five-year, 100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and vehicle emissions warranty.

The vehicle meets all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) emission certification requirements.

FedEx Freight Debuts New LNG Tractors in Dallas

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 10:54:00 -0500

FedEx Freight, a leading U.S. provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) freight service and a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., has begun beta testing two new tractors powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG)-only engines.

The pre-production engine used in the new tractors is slated for limited release in 2013 and is currently the only all natural gas engine that begins to meet the size and power needs of Class 8 trucks.

Domiciled at the FedEx Freight service center in Dallas, Texas, the tractors will be used as part of the carrier’s regular linehaul operations and are expected to log nearly 1,000 miles per day. The extensive use will enable the company to quickly and thoroughly test the new engine’s ability to meet the needs of day-to-day operations.

The LNG tractor beta test is part of a large-scale sustainability initiative by FedEx Freight to integrate responsible environmental practices into daily operations. Other efforts include:

- Experimenting with emission-free hydrogen fuel cell-powered and electric forklifts for dock operations.

- Equipping all new vehicles with SmartWay-approved tires that help improve fuel mileage.

Fitting trailers with SmartWay-approved trailer skirts to improve aerodynamics and fuel consumption.
“The testing of LNG tractors by FedEx Freight is a natural extension of our corporate-wide efforts to provide sustainable solutions for our customers,” said Mitch Jackson, vice president of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability, FedEx Corp. “Across the FedEx enterprise, we continuously look for ways to maximize our efficiency while advancing our commitment to connect the world in responsible and resourceful ways.”

Ram to Supply 19 States with Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG Pickup Trucks

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 01:16:00 -0500

Chrysler Group LLC announced that 13 Ram Truck dealers landed contracts with 19 states to supply their fleets with the new Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup truck.

The successful Ram Truck dealers were disclosed by Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper who are leading a bipartisan group of 22 states seeking to use compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles in their state automobile fleets.

The 13 Ram Truck dealers submitted formal bids in July in response to this multistate solicitation. The specific number of Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup trucks being purchased in each state was not announced today. The individual states now must finalize agreements with the dealers and issue purchase orders.

The governors have stated that the multistate solicitation was designed to encourage auto manufacturers in the U.S. to develop more functional and affordable compressed natural gas vehicles and to encourage investment in public refueling infrastructure.

Earlier this year, both governors traveled to Detroit to meet with Chrysler Group and other automakers about the project. In July, the states issued a request for proposal soliciting bids for compressed natural gas sedans, pickups, and vans to be used in state fleets.

The Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup is designed for fleet and commercial customers and offers cost and emissions benefits, using an abundant, domestically-sourced fuel while reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.

The Ram HD CNG is powered by the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and features both compressed gas storage tanks and a choice of 8- or 35-gallon gasoline fuel tanks. Redesigned cylinder heads with specifically designed CNG compatible valves and valve-seat materials allow the engine to burn both fuels. It also gets a second, CNG-specific fuel rail and set of injectors. New spark plugs improve combustion and durability, and a new powertrain control module allows the HEMI to seamlessly operate on either of the two fuel sources.

The Ram 2500 CNG system was fully engineered and tested by Chrysler Group and assembled at the company's Heavy Duty truck plant in Saltillo, Mexico.