Renewable natural gas on-road fuel use reaches historic high

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Washington, DC– Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition) has announced that 32 percent of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in calendar year 2018 was renewable natural gas (RNG).

Captured above ground from organic material in agricultural, wastewater, landfill or food waste, RNG – or biomethane – produces net carbon-neutral and even net carbon-negative results when fueling on-road vehicles like short- and long-haul trucks, transit buses, and refuse and recycling collection vehicles.  RNG fuel in 2018 had an EER-adjusted carbon intensity as low as -303.30 according to the California Air Resources Board.  By comparison, California’s electricity grid rated between 25.0 and 38.95.[1]

Over the last five years, RNG use as a transportation fuel has increased 577 percent, displacing over seven million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).  NGVAmerica and the RNG Coalition report that in 2018 a total of 645 million gasoline gallon equivalent of natural gas was used as a motor fuel.  Of that, more than 204 million gasoline gallon equivalent was renewable.[2]

“Proven and affordable natural gas vehicle technology is over 90 percent cleaner than federal EPA nitrogen oxide emission standards,” said Dan Gage, President of NGVAmerica.  “And when those American-made heavy-duty trucks and buses are fueled with renewable natural gas, they are up to 125 percent cleaner than the cleanest diesel technology in terms of carbon emissions.  RNG-fueled vehicles are the most immediate and cost-effective heavy-duty option when seeking to combat climate change.”

ROUSH Brings Low-Emission Engine to Blue Bird CNG Bus

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ROUSH CleanTech is now offering a new 0.02 ultra-low-NOx option for Blue Bird Vision compressed natural gas (CNG) school buses.

The partners say school districts and transportation contractors can now purchase CNG-fueled buses that are 90% cleaner than the national emissions standard, opening more opportunities for funding that supports reduced emissions.

“Our customers want bus innovations that are environmentally friendly and allow them to access emissions-based grant funding, and the Blue Bird Vision CNG bus delivers,” states Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corp. “This is a huge step for Blue Bird and the school bus industry as we continue to be the first to bring the newest and cleanest engine technology into our lineup of buses.”

ROUSH CleanTech developed the technology using Ford’s 6.8L V10 engine. According to the company, it is the first high-volume-production CNG Type C school bus engine certified to the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) optional low nitrogen oxide emissions standard of 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour.

EVgo Procures 100% Renewables for Electric Vehicle Charging Network

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EVgo has contracted for 100% renewable energy to power its customers’ vehicles, becoming the first electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the U.S. to do so, the company claims.

EVgo contracts with its energy suppliers and renewable energy certificate (REC) partners to ensure that each gigawatt-hour delivered on its fast-charging network financially supports an operating renewable energy generator in the U.S.

Across the country, EVgo is buying a combination of Green-e certified wind and solar energy through its electricity suppliers and REC partners. In California, EVgo is currently procuring 100% solar RECs from California and intends to purchase bundled renewable energy from its partners as they become certified through the California Air Resources Board’s Renewable Energy Pathways program.

New Flyer Launches Autonomous Technology Program for Buses

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New Flyer of America Inc. and New Flyer Industries Canada ULC (collectively, New Flyer), subsidiaries of NFI Group Inc., have launched their Autonomous Technology Program.

This program includes the development and deployment of technology for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated vehicles (AVs), with a guiding principle focused on public safety.

To ensure safe interaction among transit operators, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and interaction of buses, New Flyer will leverage the Internet of Things (an extension of internet connectivity to physical devices and everyday objects) to build connectivity in sharing public roadways. Secondary benefits of New Flyer’s program include operational efficiency, productivity and energy reduction.

PowerUp by Trillium: New EV Charging Approach for Fleets

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Trillium, a provider of alternative fuel systems and renewable fuels, has debuted PowerUP by Trillium, a program designed to serve electric vehicle fleets with predictable and cost-effective electricity pricing for EV charging.

PowerUP by Trillium uses a mix of power supply technology ranging from solar panels and on-site generation using RNG, to energy storage and power supplied from the local electric utility.

“The paradigm for EV recharging has always been to charge your vehicle using the electric utility, but PowerUP by Trillium changes that standard,” says Bill Zobel, general manager of business development and marketing for Trillium. “Our newest refueling solution puts fleets in control of their power supply and gives them the option to choose which sources of power to draw from, adding certainty to electric costs while enhancing the reliability and sustainability of their power supply over the long term.”

New Initiative Helps Fleets Evaluate Alternative Fuels

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Gladstein, Neandross and Associates (GNA) and the University of California at Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) have launched the Low and Zero Emission Readiness (LAZER) Initiative.

This new collaboration will support organizations – including transit agencies, refuse operations, trucking carriers, delivery fleets, school districts and municipalities – in evaluating the real-world economic and environmental benefits of advanced transportation technologies: e.g., battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, natural gas, propane, renewable fuel, and autonomous and connected technologies.

The LAZER Initiative aims to help commercial fleet operators and their suppliers validate the economic, environmental and operational impacts of advanced technology platforms and alternative fuel powertrains on a full life-cycle basis.

Early adopters see great potential in Nikola hydrogen-electric truck

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The first announcement of the Nikola Motor hydrogen-electric truck brought out a heavy-hitter when it came to an initial fleet interested in trying this new tractor design. U.S. Xpress Enterprises (NYSE: USX) committed early to testing the vehicle. Many of the first images of the truck featured U.S. Xpress on the side.

“There’s an intersect here in the next five or six years where battery technology may overtake diesel [in operational cost],” Max Fuller, USX chairman, told FreightWaves in 2017. He explained that the Nikola One truck could represent a 30 percent to 50 percent cost reduction per truck for his fleet. “[Nikola’s] providing the fuel, so I have a fixed cost, whereas the price of diesel is volatile. The incentive is to get out of the whole diesel volatility cycle. It really is something we can’t control but it impacts our bottom line greatly.”

Nikola Motor is promising to provide 1 million miles of hydrogen fuel, plus maintenance, tires and some ancillary items such as truck washes as part of a monthly lease program. Fleets and owner-operators can also choose to purchase the truck and those items will still be covered, said Trevor Milton, Nikola Motor’s founder & CEO, at the time.

Nikola Rolls Out Trucks for Zero-Emissions Future

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Nikola Motor Co. CEO Trevor Milton, 28 months after unveiling a prototype Class 8 sleeper, presented to about 2,000 attendees and a global audience watching online two heavy-duty trucks and three other specialty vehicles he said are ready to spark a zero-emissions future.

The heavy-duty trucks that drove out from behind the curtains one at a time, amid swirling lights and loud music as people put their cellphones on video, were the stars of the event.

As a bright red Nikola Two day cab took center stage, Milton said, “This is a real truck. This is a real [hydrogen] fuel cell,” seeming to speak to those who doubted the emerging truck maker would ever get this far.

Nikola introduced a hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 prototype Dec. 1, 2016, in Salt Lake City, its former headquarters. It is now based in Phoenix.

The day after the presentations here, Nikola offered the public a first look at the trucks as well as two zero-emissions power sport vehicles and another one designed for special forces operations, which included the ability to be operated remotely like a drone.

“We want to transform everything about the transportation industry. With Nikola’s vision, the world will be cleaner, safer and healthier,” Milton said.

Natural Gas Groups Quantify Environmental Impact of RNG Surge

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During calendar year 2018, 32% of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles was renewable natural gas (RNG), according to a new report from Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) and the Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas (RNG Coalition).

Captured above ground from organic material in agricultural, wastewater, landfill or food waste, RNG – or biomethane – produces net-carbon-neutral and even net-carbon-negative results when fueling on-road vehicles. According to the groups, which cite the California Air Resources Board, RNG fuel in 2018 had an Energy Economy Ratio (EER)-adjusted carbon intensity as low as -303.30. By comparison, California’s electricity grid rated between 25.0 and 38.95.

Over the last five years, RNG use as a transportation fuel has increased 577%, displacing over 7 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), according to the report.

GGE = gasoline gallon equivalent. EGE= ethanol gallon equivalent. EGE units are converted to GGE using a 0.67 multiplier (77,000 Btu/115,000 Btu). (Source: NGVAmerica, RNG Coalition)NGVAmerica and the RNG Coalition add that in 2018, a total of 645 million gasoline gallon equivalents (GGEs) of natural gas were used as a motor fuel; of that, more than 204 million GGEs were renewable.

“Proven and affordable natural gas vehicle technology is over 90 percent cleaner than federal EPA nitrogen oxide emission standards,” says Dan Gage, president of NGVAmerica. “And when those American-made heavy-duty trucks and buses are fueled with renewable natural gas, they are up to 125 percent cleaner than the cleanest diesel technology in terms of carbon emissions. RNG-fueled vehicles are the most immediate and cost-effective heavy-duty option when seeking to combat climate change.”

According to the report, RNG motor fuel use has eliminated 7,251,351 metric tons of CO2e over the last five years. The groups lay out the following numbers to put that figure in perspective:

  • Lowered greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to removing 1,539,565 gasoline passenger cars from the roads for one year;
  • Reduced CO2 emissions equivalent to 815,950,377 gallons of gasoline or 712,313,458gallons of diesel consumed. That’s equal to the total energy used by 868,321 U.S. homes for one year;
  • Avoided GHG emissions equivalent to running 1,537 wind turbines for one year or replacing 275,434,003 traditional light bulbs with LEDs; and
  • Sequestered carbon equal to growing 119,902,624 tree seedlings for 10 years or 8,534,274 acres of U.S. forests for one year.

Proterra’s New Battery Lease Program Aims to Cut Upfront Cost of Electric Buses

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Proterra, a U.S.-based provider of heavy-duty electric transportation, has announced a new partnership with Mitsui & Co. Ltd., a Japanese investment and trading company, to create a $200 million credit facility in support of a battery lease program.

Mitsui currently holds a diversified portfolio of businesses in various sectors, including mobility, infrastructure and renewable energy similar to the one featured on Smarterbusiness.co.uk. The battery leasing credit facility, expected to lower the upfront costs of Proterra’s electric buses, is the first of its kind in the North American public transit industry, claims Proterra.

By decoupling the batteries from the sale of its buses, Proterra enables transit customers to purchase an electric bus and lease the batteries over the 12-year lifetime of the vehicle. As a result, the initial capital expense for the electric bus is expected to be similar to that of a diesel or compressed natural gas bus, and customers can use the operating funds previously earmarked for fuel to pay for the battery lease, says Proterra. The lease agreement also provides a performance warranty, as well as new batteries at mid-life. Seeking insolvency advice can be beneficial for businesses looking to navigate financial challenges and ensure sustainable operations.

“We’re seeing innovation both in technology and in businesses around the mobility sector. We are pleased to take an initiative to support the transit industry alongside Proterra as the company expands its battery lease program to enable the rapid adoption and a broader commercialization of its electric buses,” comments Yosuke Matsumoto, general manager of new business and innovation division at Mitsui. “There is a unique opportunity for markets to provide the necessary capital to accelerate the imminent transition to 100 percent battery-electric bus fleets and reduce carbon emissions.”

In addition, Proterra and Mitsui have established a program to use batteries from the leasing program in secondary applications after the end of their useful life in a vehicle.

“This first-of-its-kind credit facility for public transportation marks a significant development in our evolution to make innovative heavy-duty electric vehicle technology accessible through innovative financing models,” notes Proterra’s CEO, Ryan Popple. “Mitsui’s continued support as a trusted partner for this facility will serve as a foundation for the Proterra battery lease program to expand and allow transit agencies across North America to bring clean, quiet transportation to their communities.”