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The CNGVP works to provide a constantly updated news source covering anything of interest to its advocates, supporters and interested parties. The most recent news stories are posted here. To view previous articles related to natural gas vehicles, please visit the CNGVP News Archive.

Airport Shuttles Going Green January 16th, 2012 - While shared-ride transportation is inherently eco-friendly, many members of The GO Group, the world's largest airport shuttle provider, are going one step further. GO companies serving San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, Milwaukee's General Mitchell International, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Puerto Rico's Luis Munoz Marin International are converting all or part of their fleets to alternative fuels – either compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane. While GO companies in Los Angeles (serving all southern California airports) and Chicago (serving Midway and O'Hare) also are in the process of doing so. CNG is a fossil fuel, while propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining. Both burn cleaner than gasoline or diesel fuels, although CNG is considered the cleaner of the two. Companies that convert to alternative fuels can earn a 50 cents-per-gallon tax credit as well other incentives from local government and the airports. READ MORE >

Clean Energy Unveils Backbone Network for America’s Natural Gas Highway January 12th, 2012 - The route plan for the first phase of 150 new LNG fueling stations for America’s Natural Gas Highway (ANGH) was unveiled today by Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE - News), the leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America. The company has identified 98 locations and anticipates having 70 stations open by the end of 2012 in 33 states. Many of the fueling stations will be co-located at Pilot-Flying J Travel Centers already serving goods movement trucking through an exclusive agreement with Pilot to build, own and operate natural gas fueling facilities at agreed-upon travel centers. Pilot-Flying J is the nation's largest truck-stop operator with more than 550 retail properties in 47 states. Major highway segments planned for early opening include, among others, those linking San Diego-Los Angeles-Riverside-Las Vegas; the Texas Triangle (Houston-San Antonio-Dallas/Ft. Worth); Los Angeles-Dallas; Houston-Chicago; Chicago-Atlanta; and a network of stations along major highways in the mid-west region (IL, IN, OH, MO, KY, TN, KS, OK, AL) to serve the heavy trucking traffic in the area. READ MORE >

Chrysler to Begin Natural-Gas Truck Sales to Fleets January 11th, 2012 - Chrysler Group LLC, the automaker controlled by Fiat SpA, plans to begin selling natural gas- powered pickups in the U.S. this year, said Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of both automakers. "We are going to bring them here, there is no doubt," Marchionne said yesterday in an interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Sales will be "limited at first. It depends upon the distribution network." Fiat, which owns 58.5 percent of Auburn Hills, Michigan- based Chrysler, has engines using compressed natural gas in Europe. Chrysler executives have said they plan to begin deliveries of vehicles using the technology to the U.S. by 2017. READ MORE >

Ryder Signs Source Interlink to Flex-to-Green Lease for Natural Gas Trucks January 10th, 2012 - Ryder System, Inc. (NYSE: R), a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, today announced it has signed its first Flex-to-Green lease agreement with Source Interlink Companies, Inc., an integrated media, publishing, merchandising and logistics company that produces and distributes magazine content to retail locations across the U.S. and abroad. With a Flex-to-Green lease for seven diesel-powered vehicles, Source Interlink will have the flexible option to exchange these vehicles for natural gas-powered vehicles. “With a fleet of over 300 vehicles that operate across the country as part of Source Interlink’s Sales, Services, and Logistics division, fuel volatility and cost is an important issue for us,” said Jim Tate, Senior Vice President of Operations, Source Interlink Distribution. “The option of using a cheaper and readily available fuel supply such as natural gas to power our vehicles and mitigate fuel costs is an attractive avenue we’d like to explore. We appreciate the flexibility that Ryder makes available through the Flex-to-Green lease offering, which will allow us to pilot alternative fuel vehicles within our fleet,” he added. READ MORE >

Natural gas pumps coming to more filling stations December 29th, 2011 - Natural gas may be coming to a filling station near you. But the fuel continues to be ignored by automakers, the government and consumers even though it's far cheaper than gasoline and would wean the U.S. off foreign oil. A major natural gas developer plans to vastly increase the number of truck stops that offer liquid natural gas . That could help boost its use in the vehicles that burn the most fuel, while promoting its availability to a wider market, the Associated Press reports. But as usual, the industry's focus is on trucks and commercial fleets. No one seems to care whether consumers use it, and only one automaker, Honda, offers a natural-gas powered car made in the U.S., the Honda Civic GX, recently renamed the NG. Honda sells an inconsequential average of about 1,000 of them a year. READ MORE >

Kenworth Truck Company Offers Advice on Spec'ing for Natural Gas Power December 20th, 2011 - Ready to seriously explore the purchase of natural gas trucks for your operation? So, where do you begin in the effort to specify for natural gas power? "Start with two primary considerations when spec'ing natural gas-powered trucks - first, the type of natural gas available in your operating area, and second, the operating range your trucks typically travel," recommended Andy Douglas, Kenworth Truck Company's national sales manager for specialty markets, who leads Kenworth's green truck initiatives. For the past five years, Douglas has traveled extensively to work closely with officials from fleets, non-profit organizations, municipalities, ports and government agencies interested in purchasing fuel-efficient, low-emission trucks or helping to aid the advancement of green trucks into the marketplace. For his efforts on Kenworth's behalf, Douglas was named one of just 40 Sustainability All-Stars by Green Fleet magazine recently. READ MORE >

IMW Industries mobile CNG station ideal for smaller fleets December 20th, 2011 - IMW Industries, a subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp, has introduced a new self-contained, mobile compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station designed for small to mid-size vehicle fleets. With the growing demand for natural gas fueling by vehicle fleets, the mobile station can be deployed and operating in days rather than months providing the economic and environmental benefits of using natural gas fuel quickly. Offering both time-fill and fast-fill fueling capabilities, the natural gas compression/dispensing system is mounted on a 24-foot trailer for quick deployment to fleet locations across the country to provide CNG fueling for new fleets or while a permanent station is under construction or undergoing equipment maintenance. READ MORE >

Kenworth Annual Show Facilitates Natural Gas Vehicle Selection by Fleet Operators December 19th, 2011 - USA-based Kenworth Truck Company hosted a truck show in Indianapolis featuring compressed natural gas (CNG) powered and hybrid Kenworths at the start of December. The company’s dedication to provision of green fleet choices includes compressed and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks. More than 350 truck and fleet operators learned about new available equipment and the future of natural gas fuel in the trucking industry. Also presented were free training sessions on vehicle maintenance and grant writing. “Truck operators and their technicians got a lot of great information about spec’ing choices, maintenance and grant assistance to help make the new technology more affordable,” said Jacob Nichols, general manager of Kenworth of Indianapolis. “A seven-person panel discussion provided information and opinions on the growth and future of natural gas in heavy duty trucks and the transportation industry. Participants learned how the rising cost of diesel and the increasing availability of domestic gas reserves is helping to build momentum for the adoption of natural gas-powered vehicles.” READ MORE >

Honda Civic Natural Gas is a new clean alternative December 9th, 2011 - Car buyers looking for ultra clean vehicles generally turn to hybrids or electric cars. There have been questions raised about the cradle-to-grave impact on the environment. What happens to the batteries? Can they be recycled or repurposed? How significant is the carbon footprint when assembling a hybrid and its additional components over a standard car? For the average Joe or Jane that just wants to do the responsible thing, it’s a dilemma. As you well know, the internet is full of ammunition to support any argument. Somewhere, someplace, there’s research that says trees actually hurt the environment. That, and the government has space aliens in captivity. Dozens of them. Ashton Kutcher may be one of them. Enter the Honda Civic NG. It doesn’t look any different from a standard Civic sedan. It doesn’t use gasoline. Doesn’t run on diesel fuel or electricity either. Clean coal? Space aliens are more realistic. This Honda is powered by natural gas. For treading lightly on Mother Earth, this is a very good thing. READ MORE >

To view previous articles related to natural gas vehicles, please visit the CNGVP News Archive.