Propane Autogas Provides Energy Supply Resiliency

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If there’s one thing this last year has shown us, it’s that it doesn’t take much to disrupt a business. Between extreme weather events, supply chain shortages, and even cyberattacks, interruptions in energy source availability can lead to catastrophe.

For instance, earlier this year, a winter storm crippled Texas, causing a massive electricity generation failure that left 4.5 million homes without power. More recently, a gasoline pipeline cyberattack on the East Coast halted shipments of up to 2.5 million barrels per day. In some states like North Carolina, more than 65% of gas stations were without fuel, and consumers began to panic across the country.

For fleets that rely on a rigid energy source, these situations should serve as a stark warning that when disaster strikes, they may be less likely to successfully navigate its challenges. Energy resiliency, sustainability, and diversification are becoming required strategic approaches for fleet operations. Propane autogas is a portable, clean energy source that not only keeps fleet operating smoothly every day, but also during times of crisis.

Driving Behaviors and Gallons

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Following and complementing its Prime the Pump initiative, Growth Energy is launching a consumer campaign to increase awareness of the environmental benefits of E15. The goal is to trigger more sales of E15 to consumers who want to make a small change for a big Earth impact. Ideally, they’ll fill up with E15 and also demand more access to it.

Growth Energy’s Emily Skor, CEO, and Elizabeth Funderburk, vice president of communications and public affairs, speak enthusiastically about their new endeavor, named Get Biofuel, and the goals they’re setting for it.

“What this campaign does is appeal to the emotion of wanting to do something in a small way that can benefit the environment,” Funderburk says.

“I’m really excited about it,” Skor adds. “The growth opportunity for the industry is going to be when E15 is the standard fuel offering nationwide. In order to get to that place, we’ve got a full throttle industry effort and you really have to pursue three different things.”

The urban, low-speed EV is having a moment

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When Tesla unveiled its original luxury electric sports car, the Roadster, back in 2006, the company upended the idea of what electric vehicles could be. Prior to the emergence of the sleek and powerful Roadster, EVs were dismissed as essentially slow, tiny electric golf carts.

It turns out the EV evolution is coming full circle, at least in some regions in the world, reports Bloomberg.

In China, a 10-foot-long minicar called the Wuling Hongguang Mini — made by General Motors and Chinese automakers SAIC and Guangxi Automobile — is topping 250,000 in total sales. That makes it the best-selling EV in the country, outperforming Tesla’s Model 3 and others.

Young families are buying the car because at around $5,000 it’s cheap, it’s easy to drive, park and charge, and it’s fun to personalize with a Crayola box of color options and stickers from the likes of Pokemon and Hello Kitty. The car is reportedly ubiquitous in the Chinese city of Liuzhou, which has chargers all over the place; the city offers free parking and charging to support the growing EV market.

It’s Official: US Juices Clean (Or Green) Hydrogen Race With New “Energy Earthshots”

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It seems like only yesterday that a mysterious new program called Energy Earthshots was in the works for the US Department of Energy, and everybody was wondering what that could possibly be. The curtain has now lifted and the answer is clean hydrogen. If you’re thinking why clean hydrogen and not green hydrogen, that’s a good question. The answer could make fossil energy stakeholders very happy or very, very sad.

Hyundai upgrades world’s first mass produced hydrogen heavy truck

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Hyundai Motor Company has released images of its newly upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell, the world’s first mass-produced, heavy-duty truck powered by hydrogen. With design and performance updates, Hyundai’s zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle will become even more attractive to corporate fleet customers all over the world. Hyundai will begin production of 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell in August this year. Services like Truck repair near me would be essential for truck drivers all over the world.

“Hyundai Motor is leveraging more than 20 years of experience in fuel cell technology to further its vision of an eco-friendly hydrogen society,” said Jaehoon (Jay) Chang, CEO and President of Commercial Vehicle Division at Hyundai Motor Company. “With 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell, Hyundai will contribute to the widespread adoption of commercial vehicles powered by hydrogen.”

As Hyundai pushes the boundaries of eco-friendly transportation with its upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell, the need for reliable maintenance and repair services for hydrogen-powered trucks becomes increasingly crucial. Just as Hyundai pioneers advancements in fuel cell technology, ensuring the seamless operation of these cutting-edge vehicles requires expert care and attention.

Truck drivers worldwide rely on efficient and knowledgeable auto repair services to keep their fleets running smoothly, and companies like Blue Wrench Auto stand at the forefront of this essential support network. Blue Wrench, with its dedication to excellence and specialization in heavy-duty vehicle maintenance, emerges as a trusted partner for fleet operators embracing Hyundai’s 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell and other hydrogen-powered trucks. With a deep understanding of the unique requirements of eco-friendly commercial vehicles, Blue Wrench offers comprehensive servicing, diagnostics, and repairs to ensure optimal performance and longevity.

Similarly, diesel-powered trucks continue to play a vital role in the transportation industry, necessitating expert care and maintenance to keep them operating efficiently. As technology in diesel engines evolves, the need for specialized services becomes more pronounced. Companies like G&R Diesel provide this essential expertise, ensuring that diesel vehicles maintain peak performance and reliability. Whether it’s routine maintenance or addressing more complex issues, diesel specialists are crucial for extending the lifespan and enhancing the performance of these robust vehicles.

Hyundai has upgraded both the design and performance of XCIENT Fuel Cell, adding to its competitive edge for a better driving experience. The updated exterior design expresses the vehicle’s dynamic and eco-friendly performance. Decorated with a linear and bold ‘V’ shape of chrome details and multi-dimensional mesh patterns, the new radiator grille reflects the high-tech fuel cell truck’s unrivalled presence on the road, while serving its own technical function. The blue point color surrounding the grille and the decal graphics vividly visualizes the use of eco-friendly hydrogen energy.

What’s delivering electric fleets? FedEx and ChargePoint weigh in

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Forever taking the fossil fuels out of delivering goods, from the long haul to the last mile, can go a long way toward reducing carbon emissions on a meaningful scale. What is attracting more companies to pursue electric fleets, and what’s holding back more of them from ditching the diesel?

“We’re seeing almost every day, it seems like, new product announcements, partnerships, joint ventures, significant investments being made,” said Ben Sharpe, senior researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation, speaking at the VERGE Electrify virtual event.

Legacy big-rig makers including Volvo, Daimler, Cummins and Peterbilt are aggressively bringing electric vehicles to market, as are a wide range of startups such as BYD, Proterra, Orange EV and GreenPower. Meanwhile, one of the Biden administration’s earliest big announcements this year was its goal to electrify federal fleets.

ADD Systems appoints director of customer support

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Advanced Digital Data Inc. (ADD Systems) promoted Andy Katsigiannis to director of customer support and hardware operations. His appointment follows the retirement of Roger Keyser, vice president of customer support and hardware operations.

Keyser retires after nearly 40 years with ADD Systems. He joined the company in 1982, only nine years after its start. He went from being the only trainer on the road to overseeing ADD’s complete customer support process, including hardware operations. Keyser was integral in the formation of ADD’s support teams, the company says.

“Roger has done an amazing job over the past 39 years,” says Bruce Bott, president of ADD Systems. “ADD customers and ADD employees have truly benefited from his expertise and his guidance. He’s done an equally phenomenal job preparing his department and all of ADD for his departure. He will be missed.”

USGC highlights ethanol’s environmental benefits

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The U.S. Grains Council is continuing to demonstrate to administration and global stakeholders the environmental benefits of ethanol.

Forty countries participated in the Leaders Summit on Climate, held in Washington, DC, April 22-23, 2021. Attendees, including foreign leaders and representatives of many countries that already have ethanol policies in place like China, Japan, Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico and the EU heard President Biden’s climate goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and witnessed the submission of the U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution, the formal commitment by the U.S. to reduce emissions.

“Formal climate commitments, such as the Biden Administration’s announcement to reduce GHG emissions by 50-52 percent by 2030, open new opportunities to showcase ethanol’s environmental benefits,” said Isabelle Ausdal, USGC manager of ethanol trade policy and economics. “USGC is engaging with countries that are setting increasingly ambitious climate targets to ensure that all opportunities for ethanol are realized.”

USDA predicts increase in soybean oil use for biofuel

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The USDA predicts the 2021-’22 outlook for U.S. soybeans is for lower supplies, lower exports, higher crush and higher ending stocks, according to the agency’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report, released May 12. The use of soybean oil for biofuel production is forecast higher.

The soybean crop is projected at 4.4 billion bushels, up 270 million from last year on increased harvested area and trend yields. With lower beginning stocks, soybean supplies are projected down 3 percent from 2020-’21. Total U.S. oilseed production for 2021-’22 is forecast at 130.3 million tons, up 7.9 million from 2020-’21.

Adopt-a-Port: Chevron further bets on alliance to help fleets shift to biogas

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Chevron Corporation announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) is investing an additional $20 million in the Adopt-a-Port initiative with Clean Energy Fuels. Chevron has now invested a total of $28 million in the initiative, which provides truck fleet operators and owners serving the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with cleaner, carbon-negative renewable natural gas to reduce emissions.

In addition to providing funding for Adopt-a-Port, Chevron supplies renewable natural gas to Clean Energy stations near the ports. Chevron’s funding will allow truck operators to subsidize the cost of buying new or converting to biomethane trucks. Clean Energy, meanwhile, will manage the program, including offering fueling services for qualified truck operators.

Truck operators participating in the program, which supports the ports’ Clean Trucks Program and Clean Air Action Plan, agree to fuel up at the Clean Energy stations supplied with Chevron renewable gas. Truck operators and their import and export customers are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard program while also reducing smog-forming NOx emissions by up to 98% compared to diesel trucks, helping local communities.