NAT GAS ACT Failed

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate voted 51-47 to add the Senate version of the NAT GAS Act as an amendment to the Transportation Bill (Amendment #1782).  The amendment was offered by Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).  Yesterday, Sen. Burr spoke in favor of the NAT GAS Act for 50 minutes on the floor of the Senate.  Despite the amendment receiving 51 votes in support, 60 votes were required for it to pass, so the amendment failed.  Among the yeas votes were 45 Democrats and 6 Republicans.  Among the nays votes were 39 Republicans, 7 Democrats and 1 independent. Two Senators were not present, one of which was Sen. Orrin Hatch, a supporter of NGVs (who was in Utah for a primary on Thursday).

Kentucky Fleets Encouraged to Join Green Fleets of the Bluegrass

Join Green Fleets of the Bluegrass this spring as we gear up to improve the performance and ratings of fleets across Kentucky for 2012!

Green Fleets of the Bluegrass aims to improve the environmental performance of vehicle fleets across Kentucky by reducing petroleum fuel use. Participating fleets are evaluated and rated annually. A special session at KCFC’s April 27th event at Mammoth Cave National Park will feature Green Fleet best practice sharing and implementation guidance. Current and prospective Green Fleet participants are encouraged to attend.

• Learn how your fleet can improve its Green Fleet rating for 2012
• Learn about other fleets‘ best practice efforts
• Share your fleet’s successes and challenges
• Share how the Green Fleets program can best support your fleet’s goals and efforts

Data submissions for 2012 ratings are due November 1. New participants should submit their baseline data as soon as possible. For more information see http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/greenfleets.htm or email emily@kentuckycleanfuels.org.

CNG Station to Open in Louisville:

PetroCard and Waste Management are excited to announce they are constructing a public compressed natural gas fueling station in west Louisville (7501 Grade Lane - near the airport) and estimates opening in June. The site will be open 24 hours all year long. We are also proud to announce that PetroCard is now a Silver member of KCFC.

For additional information on the station, card acceptance or how to open an account, contact them at 800.950.3835 or sales@petrocard.com.

You can also visit http://www.cleanngreenfuel.com/

KCFC Members Tour ThomasBuilt

A few KCFC members enjoyed a field trip to HIgh Point, North Carolina recently to tour the ThomasBuilt School Bus manufacturing plant.

Brian Bane (Cummins Crosspoint0, David Huff (LG&E/KU), Marie Burnett (Waste Management), Jeff Jacobs (Eaton), Barry Zink and Frank Lewis (Whayne Power) and Melissa Howell (KCFC), not only toured the manufacturing facility where 33 busses come off the line daily but also got a first hand look at CNG busses bound for California and the solar panels on site that were provided by Duke Energy. Due to growth in production demand, the plant has brought back 250 laid off workers from last year and is hiring an additional 100.

America's Natural Gas Highway Coming to Kentucky Thanks to Clean Energy

Clean Energy will be building a public LNG/CNG refueling site in Walton, Ky. (Flying J's) as part of America’s Natural Gas Highway. They expect to complete the project this summer. The station will feature the latest state-of-the-art technology for natural gas vehicle fueling. They will initially deploy LNG at the station to service big rig heavy-duty trucks. They may add CNG to the station at any time when needed by the market.

Read more about the Clean Energy program - http://www.kentuckycleanfuels.org/resources/naturalgashighway.pdf.

Westport LD Works with Kentucky Ford Truck Plant to Offer Select CNG Trucks

By Lawrence McBride, NGVi Staff 

I recently chatted with Craig Duffy, Fleet Sales Marketing Manager of Westport LD about some good news on the road for Ford pick-up trucks and CNG.   

I understand that Westport LD is working with a certain house-hold name to convert select pick-up trucks to be available to an even wider audience?
Craig: Westport LD is working directly with Ford Motor Company to begin offering compressed natural gas (CNG) bi-fuel power systems.

Can you share what models you’re beginning with?
Ford Super Duty F250/ F350 pick up models. Like Ford, Westport LD will be doing thorough testing (crash, drive-ability, high altitude, steep grade, towing, shaker, hot, cold, EPA and CARB certified emissions) to assure that the durability and reliability of this system matches the Ford product itself. The system (we call it WiNG) will carry the exact warranty as the Ford pickup that it powers and will be installed on vehicles in Louisville, Kentucky, adjacent to the Ford assembly plant. Vehicles will arrive at authorized Ford Dealers on regular Ford transport trucks.

This is kind of exciting, and great for the industry.  Can you tell me how this new option will be executed?
It is exciting. In addition, Westport LD is offering Ford dealers an opportunity to increase their business by selling natural gas powered Ford pick up trucks. This will allow them to sell vehicles to the ever-increasing market demand for vehicles that operate on an alternative fuel.  And compressed natural gas is both less expensive than gasoline and it is domestically produced.  So it’s a real win-win.

For those new to the Westport brand, can you give a brief review of your offering?
Westport Innovations has over 15 years in the gaseous industry, and is the global leader.  Westport Innovations offers solutions in three distinct areas:

• Westport HD, which makes over the road tractor trailer engines
• Cummins-Westport, which is a joint partnership with Cummins, and makes transit bus engines and vocational truck engines, and then
• Westport LD, this new division.

Westport LD’s first offering, the WiNG power system, will be available beginning in the second quarter on the Ford Super Duty F250/F350.  Westport is the only CNG installer that utilizes a ship-thru code.

Units go from the Ford Louisville Truck Plant to the Westport facility, the power system is installed, and then returned to Ford for shipment directly to the ordering dealer.  

We do all the same testing that Ford does, including crash, altitude, hot and cold start, shaker, wind tunnel, and water-fording.  Pricing for the unit is $9,750 MSRP with the standard 18.4 GGE fuel cylinder (an optional 24 GGE tank is available for an additional $1,200).  Our entire business model calls for us to be as close to OEM as possible.

Aside from this innovation, what role does Westport LD intend to play?
Westport LD is inviting Ford Dealers across the country to become a Westport Authorized Distributor to sell and service these vehicles. Each Westport Authorized Distributor will complete specific Sales Training, Service/Parts Training and Facilities Requirements Training, enabling seasoned shops to get the necessary tools to be successful in selling Ford Super Duty pickups equipped with the WiNG power system.
 
How does a Ford Dealer become a Westport Distributor?
To become a distributor:

• A representative from the dealership is required to attend our sales training

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  The next training will be held February 21st in Detroit, MI

  
  
  
  
  

  To help offset the cost, Westport LD will issue a $500 credit toward the cost of the first WiNG power system sold.

  
  
  
  

• Vehicle Service Training is also required, and will be held at the dealership location
• No parts stocking is required, as any necessary parts will be overnighted directly to the dealership
• Some special tools may be required
• Facility upgrades may be required in order to meet Federal laws, and the local fire marshal has the responsibility to confirm that the dealer’s maintenance facility complies with those laws  

 

Is there a specific person an interested dealership should contact to begin the process?
Dealers who are interested should contact me:

Craig Duffy
Fleet Sales Marketing Manager
cduffy@westport.com
(734) 233-6871 (office)
(248) 686-9223 (cell)