All About Alternate Fuel Vehicles (AFV)

Demand catching up among passenger cars as well
Priyanka Vyas
New Delhi, Jan. 1, 2008
Source: The Hindu Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/01/02/
stories/2008010250260200.htm

Spiralling crude prices coupled with wider availability of alternate fuels, and lower maintenance cost has spurred more Indians on a ‘green drive’ with the number of CNG vehicles in the country touching over 3.54 lakh, as per industry estimates.  Interestingly, Mumbai has lesser number of CNG stations compared to Delhi, but has more vehicles running on the alternative fuel. Mumbai with 127 CNG stations has about 1,83,429 vehicles against Delhi that has 153 outlets with 1,50,000 vehicles. The other cities that have CNG stations include Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vadodara, Agartala, Kanpur, Bareli and Lucknow.
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Sanjay Dutta,TNN
New Delhi, 27 Dec 2007
Source. TimesofIndia.com
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/
Private_firms_may_get_nod_to_sell_auto-LPG/articleshow/2653876.cms

With concerns over vehicular pollution rising and inadequate availability hampering introduction of CNG (compressed natural gas) as green fuel in more cities, the oil ministry may allow private refiners and independent gas marketers to set up retail networks for pushing use of LPG (liquefied natural gas) as an automotive fuel.
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January 03, 2008
Source: Otago Daily Times /NZHerald.co.nz
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10485089

The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has skyrocketed, and the increase is being blamed on a new contract and high international demand.  The price of LPG has been steadily climbing over the past two years but was pushed up significantly when new internationally-negotiated contracts came into force on New Year’s Day.
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Priyanka Vyas,  New Delhi, 04 January 2008
Source. SIFY.com
http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14584321

Banking on the wider availability of alternate fuels, Hyundai Motors India, which has a slew of launches planned on this platform, said that it was looking at 15-20 per cent increase in sales from such vehicles.  “We expect 15-20 per cent incremental sales over and above what we are already selling to come from our range of CNG and LPG vehicles, considering the wider availability of LPG and rising petrol prices,” said Arvind Saxena, Senior Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Hyundai Motors India.
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Bhubaneswar, Jan 7, 2008
Source: NewIndpress.com
http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?
ID=IEQ20080107013009&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0

Indian Oil Corporation today launched the first auto LPG dispensing station in the State at the Bhambra petrol pump here.   The station will vend liquefied petroleum gas, which would be used as automotive fuel. It is eco-friendly and being an alternative fuel promises to play a crucial role in checking motor vehicle pollution on city roads and increase efficiency.  The product is being marketed under the brand name of ‘AutoGas.’ The retail price of the fuel has been fixed at Rs 38.50. The company proposes to commission three more dispensing stations in the State.
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By Steven Bodzin, Jan. 1, 2008
Source: Bloomberg.com/Latin America
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aKLIXJbvNvu0&refer=latin_america

Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and other carmakers with assembly plants in Venezuela haven’t started making vehicles with tanks for natural gas, missing today’s government deadline, El Nacional reported.  The country’s energy ministry hasn’t provided information on how to get kits to let cars burn natural gas, the newspaper said, citing an industry spokesman it didn’t identify.
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Washington, Jan 2 2008
Source: Businesswire.com
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&
newsId=20080102005944&newsLang=en

For the first time, the cost of petroleum reached $100 per barrel in international trading today. Meanwhile, in the United States, the same amount of energy in the form of natural gas was selling for only about $40. “In the past, there were substantial societal benefits of using more natural gas as a vehicle fuel – such as reducing dependence on foreign oil, reducing greenhouse gases and reducing urban pollution,” said Richard Kolodziej, President of NGVAmerica. “Now, as the price gap between petroleum and natural gas widens, we’re seeing a major economic advantage, too. As a result, 2008 will be a milestone year in the growth of natural gas vehicles in the U.S.”
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Oct 20, 2007
Source: Energy Bangla.com
http://www.energybangla.com/article_det.asp?aId=774

4th International Conference & Exhibition CNG Conex 2007 will be held on 17-18 November 2007at Karachi Expo Centre with the objective to promote CNG as an alternative and environment friendly fuel in the Country and promotion of CNG conversation of heavy vehicle especially urban transport to protect environment. The Conference & Exhibition will be inaugurated by Federal Minister of Petroleum and Secretary Petroleum is expected to be Chief Guest at the concluding session. This was stated by Naeem Qureshi Chairman Organizing Committee Malik Khuda Buksh, Chairman CSOAP A. Sami Khan President CNG Dealers Association at a joint press Conference at a local hotel.
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Valley Stream, NY, Nov. 6, 2007
Source: Energtek.com press release
http://www.energtek.com/Energtek/IR/Pressrelase.htm

Energtek Inc. (Energtek) announced today the successful completion in the Philippines of the conversion and road-test of an ANG- powered three-wheeler. The conversion has been performed using the technology developed by Energtek’s subsidiary, Angstore Technology Ltd. Energtek, in cooperation with, and under the supervision of, representatives of the Department of Energy of the Republic of the Philippines and of the Philippines National Oil Company Exploration Corporation, converted and further field tested a Honda EMX-155 motorcycle with a side car (tricycle). This model is one of the most widely used motorcycles in the Philippines. The tests, performed in San Antonio, Province of Isabela, met the goals set by the involved parties.
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Source: Bangkok Post/ Oct 28, 2007
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=123071

The demand for natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in Thailand is expected to rise in response to rising oil prices, and in anticipation some fuel refiners have already started to up their production output to cope with the coming demand. Led by Metta Banturngsuk, director-general of the Energy Business Department, Thai government Energy Ministry officials on Sunday inspected a large automobile garage and service centre in this eastern resort which also offers a specialised service for installing NGV engines.

The company now has only four NGV installation branches, but plans to set up six more in Thailand’s northeastern and southern regions. Investment at each branch will require about Bt25 million. On the other hand, the ministry has drawn up a plan to encourage all taxi drivers to switch to using NGVs within two years from the liquefied petroleum gas they are using now.

Mr. Metta said his department planned to boost the number of skilled mechanics to install NGV machines by another 400 persons next year. It has now provided training to 480 persons. Also, the department has joined with government-related PTT and the Land Transport Department to issue a standard of quality certificate to entrepreneurs offering the installation and servicing of NGV equipment and parts. At present, there are 21 such services and the number will be increased to 50 next year, Mr. Metta said. (TNA)