Driving Down Greenhouse Gas Emissions

On Friday April 22, leaders from 175 countries gathered in New York to sign the Paris Agreement, which was brokered at COP 21 last December. This means that over 85 per cent of the world’s nations have committed to large reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over the next 15 years and to actions to limit any increase in global warming to 2°C.

At the signing ceremony, U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, pointed directly to the private sector when he discussed the Agreement, saying: “It is the unmistakable signal that innovation, entrepreneurial activity, the allocation of capital, the decisions that governments make, all of this is what we now know definitively is what is going to define the new energy future… The power of this agreement is what it is going to do to unleash the private sector, and it is already doing to set in pace the global economy on a new path for smart, responsible, sustainable development.”

These pledges and comments may be headline grabbing but what does this all mean in real terms for the transportation industry? In this edition of Fuel for Thought, Karen Hamberg, Westport’s Vice President Industry and Government Relations, explains how Westport is leading the transition to a low carbon economy and the environmental benefits we can expect from next generation natural gas engine and vehicle technology. 

Karen Hamberg, VP of Industry and Government Relations

Sustainability and a low carbon economy

Sustainability is at the core of Westport’s business. We are seeing a heightened focus on the environmental performance of the transportation sector on a global scale with these pivotal commitments to the Paris Agreement. As the drive for increased engine efficiency, improved urban air quality and GHG emission reductions increases more pressure is placed on engine and vehicle manufacturers. This, in turn, increases opportunities for us to innovate in order to take a leading role in the transition to a low carbon economy.

Earth Day took place on April 22 and coincided with the signing of the Paris Agreement

So what are we doing to achieve this?

1. Collaborating with key industry partners

We contribute to technical working groups, committees, and advisory panels to learn from other experts, share our expertise and help to build a body of knowledge about the benefits of natural gas vehicles.

A few examples

• Member of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), a global non-profit organization that works with more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration.
• Founding member of the Future of Fuels working group, which exists to identify and promote transportation fuel pathways that enhance the sustainability and availability of emerging alternative fuel choices
• A close working relationship with the Environmental Defence Fund (EDF)  and a contributor to their series of studies, which calculates the full climate impact of natural gas to develop  credible and defensible data about natural gas vehicles and fueling stations. This includes a  better understanding the source and quantity of methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain.[1]

2. Innovating to Help OEMs Meet Strict New Targets

To reduce GHG emissions and meet the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, the commercial vehicle industry faces a steep challenge. Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs) need to find cost-effective ways to reduce both GHG emissions and conventional emissions such as NOx and particulate matter without compromising vehicle performance and utility.

In the United States, the stringent upcoming EPA/NHTSA Phase Two GHG Regulations 

will introduce new targets for fuel efficiency that will shift the burden of compliance on OEMs away from the engine and onto the vehicle as a whole. These regulations aim to cut GHG emissions by approximately 1 billion metric tons, which equates to the amount of CO₂ produced to power 83.3 million U.S. family homes for a year, and are set to start rolling out in model year (MY) 2021.

Under the draft Phase 2 rule, Westport’s natural gas engine and vehicle technologies are a strong pathway to the long-term reduction of CO₂ emissions that will enable OEMs to exceed the stringent new limits set for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Matt Godlewski, the President of Natural Gas Vehicles for America, agrees.
“As OEMs strive to create vehicles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the new EPA standards, innovative engineering will be crucial. New natural gas technology, such as the engines Westport’s developing, will provide solutions that reduce emissions, are more cost-effective than electrification, and will stay ahead of the curve with upcoming regulations.”

3. Developing solutions: Westport’s Next Gen Products

Our next-generation natural gas engine and vehicle technologies offer compelling energy, environmental, and sustainability benefits, including GHG emissions reduction. Here is a snap shot of some of the exciting products nearing commercialization.

Westport^TM High Pressure Direct Injection Technology (HPDI 2.0)

The new HPDI injector technology which will lower costs, increase performance and offer improved durability

HPDI 2.0 will be optimum for heavy-duty vehicles and has been developed for integration on factory-built original equipment manufacturer (OEM) engines and trucks.

Benefits

• The only natural gas technology capable of delivering high performance and low fuel consumption equivalent to that of current heavy duty diesel engines
• Limits unburnt methane emissions to less than 0.2% of total fuel flow via its highly efficient combustion process

ISL G Near Zero NOx 8.9L engine

The 8.9L Near Zero NOx engine, which is a joint venture with Cummins Inc., is currently in the late stages of field testing

This engine from Cummins Westport Inc. (CWI), which is available to order in 2016, removes a significant source of methane emissions via the use of closed crankcase ventilation (CCV) technology.

Benefits

• A 70% reduction in engine related methane emissions
• Delivers near-zero NOx emissions performance. NOx emissions from the ISL G Neare Zero are so low that an entire fleet of 1,000 buses equipped with this new engine would have the same NOx emissions as a single 1980s era diesel bus
• Meets proposed EPA/NHTSA Phase 2 GHG regulations

Enhanced Spark Ignition (ESI) technology

The ESI engine, which utilizes spark ignited architecture, will run on 100% CNG or LNG

In the past, the peak torque output of spark ignited natural gas engines has been 15-25 per cent lower than comparable diesel engines. This is set to change though as Westport’s ESI technology will allow natural gas engines to outperform diesel for the first time.

Benefits

• Exceeds the power, torque and performance of state-of-the-art diesel engines
• Improved fuel economy via engine downsizing and other engine efficiency improvements
• Allows vehicle OEMs to avoid expensive electrification / hybridization needed with conventional fuels (diesel and gasoline) to be compliant with proposed EPA/NHTSA Phase 2 GHG regulations.

Find out more

We continue to strive to create leading edge technology that exceeds the requirements of legislation, industry codes and standards. Working with our partners, we are committed to delivering low-emission natural gas solutions that will meet our customers’ demands for high-efficiency, high-performance, and low-carbon transportation both now and in the future.

For more information, visit the Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Natural Gas Vehicles section on the Westport website or email Karen. 

---

[1]

We anticipate that the module study covering natural gas vehicle and fuel stations will be published in 2016.

Uncertain future for natural gas vehicles? Think again!

The future of the natural gas vehicle market in an era of cheap diesel fuel and gasoline was a headline topic at last week’s 2016 NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis. A record number of fleet owners and managers, OEM reps, equipment suppliers, government delegates and other industry professionals turned up to learn the latest.

Westport’s Brad Douville, VP of Business Development and a mechanical engineer by trade, spoke at the premier industry event, which incorporated the Green Truck Summit and hailed Jay Leno as a key note speaker. So what’s in store? In this article Brad talks about new tech, GHG wins and the stable customer base that’s not going anywhere.

Brad Douville, Westport VP of Business Development

New natural gas vehicle technology

I had a clear goal for my presentation. For industry professionals to leave knowing that, while the natural gas work trucks that we have on the roads right now are great, next-generation technology will make them even better and deliver more compelling benefits than ever before.

To demonstrate this, I showcased Westport’s advanced powertrain technology, which we call Enhanced Spark Ignition (ESI), as well as the new conformable CNG tank technology from San Francisco start-up company—Volute.

So what’s exciting about Westport’s ESI technology? For the first time we have a spark ignited natural gas engine solution that exceeds the power, torque and performance of state-of-the-art diesel engines and provides substantial fuel economy improvements. Up to this point, the peak torque output of spark ignited natural gas engines has been 15% to 25% lower than the counterpart diesel engines. Through our ESI technology, we have re-imagined the possibilities. By relieving the constraint of retaining the diesel cylinder head and designing an entirely new spark ignited optimized head, natural gas engines are able to outperform diesel for the first time. Plus they can do it in a way that improves the robustness of the combustion and reliability of the engine components.

Demonstration engine featuring Westport’s next-generation Enhanced Spark Ignition (ESI) technology – smaller, lighter, more powerful, and more fuel efficient than today’s natural gas engines

For anyone who hasn’t heard of Volute technology before, it’s new, conformable CNG tank technology that uses standard Type IV CNG cylinder materials (i.e. carbon fibre wrapped polymer liner) in a novel hose-like or sausage-link configuration. This makes it a lighter, lower cost system that can be folded to fit on any vehicle using existing available spaces—a real challenge with today’s bulky, standard CNG cylinders. This exciting new natural gas technology has been developed with funding from the US Department of Energy’s ARPA-E MOVE program, combined with investment and expertise from Westport (as an equity owner).

Volute CEO, Dan Recht showing Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, conformable CNG tank technology which was recently featured in online news publication www.fortune.com

GHG wins for OEMs

Stringent upcoming phase two GHG regulations are set to shift the burden on OEMs away from the engine and onto the vehicle itself. This trend leaves few existing options in the work truck segment, other than costly electrification and hybridization. Westport's ESI approach can provide OEMs with a natural gas engine solution that complies with the tough 2027 EPA regulation levels well ahead of time without electrification/hybridization. We believe this will offer the best value for fleet owners (end-users) due to the low purchase price and lowest cost of any fuel on the market.

Stable customer base regardless of current oil price

Waste Management fleet using natural gas

In a time of cheap oil, we have seen fleets that have made natural gas (NG) work continue to stay on this path. Mike Britt, from UPS, did a great job of sharing how NG makes good business sense for them even in the current environment.

We are witnessing savvy fleet owners foreseeing volatility in oil prices and stability in NG prices over the medium- and long-term. This is because running a payback analysis on today's fuel cost differential doesn't do much good when the vehicle fleet will operate over many years. The trick is to compare the average fuel cost differential over time, taking into account that most experts predict the price of oil will go up in the coming years. Using this equation, we believe that many fleet owners will see clear financial benefits for converting to natural gas.

So what’s next for Westport?

Through my interactions with other industry professionals, I am regularly told that many view Westport as a leading innovator within the NGV industry. A company that looks to the future and pushes the boundaries of what is possible to keep advancing technology and creating new solutions for customers. This is a role we will continue to play.

To learn more about the 2016 Ford F-150 and other Ford products with CNG contact us at 855-978-9464, fordsales@westport.com or visit www.westport.com/wing. To find an OEM using larger natural gas engines visit the Cummins Westport webpage. Or contact Brad Douville via bdouville@westport.com to learn more about Westport’s ESI technology or Volute technology.

NGV Industry Shares Latest Developments at NGV Show in Denver

The who’s who of the natural gas vehicle (NGV) industry in North America is gathered this week in Denver, Colorado for the North American Natural Gas Vehicle Conference and Expo, hosted by NGV America.

Attendees visit the Westport booth at NGV Show 2015 in Denver

Two speakers from Westport will present at this year’s conference. Brad Douville will present methane as a performance fuel in the “Improving Performance: Advances in Powertrains, Pumps, Fill, and Range” session September 16 at 1:30 pm. In the “Retrofit Options for Cost-Effective Entry into the NGV Market” session at 3:20 pm, Paul Osbourn will present cost-effective retrofits for NGVs, also on September 16.

Collins Bus Delivers First NEXBUS® CNG Type A School Bus to Pennsylvania School District

New natural gas-powered buses feature the Westport WiNG Power System.

Collins Bus Corporation has delivered the first four production units of its new NEXBUS® compressed natural gas (CNG) Type A school bus to the Lower Merion School District in Montgomery County, Pa. With more than half of its 117 vehicle fleet fueled by CNG, the Lower Merion School District boasts one of the largest fleets of alternative fuel school buses on the East coast.

“We are excited to see the delivery of the first Ford Factory OEM approved CNG Type A school bus,” said John Walsh, vice president of sales for ASV Bus, the parent company to Collins Bus. “The Collins NEXBUS CNG model demonstrates ASV’s commitment to meeting customer demands for environmentally friendly vehicles powered by clean alternative fuel systems that reduce carbon emissions.”

LNG to Meet More U.S. Fleet Needs with Tax Fix

Why are some U.S. fleets eager for winter? This summer’s big news for liquefied natural gas (LNG) means fleets running on the fuel will benefit beginning this winter. A new law in the United States was enacted to bring LNG excise taxes measured in line with diesel on an energy basis – using diesel gallon equivalents (DGE). The new law will effect January 1, 2016.

Instead of being charged tax by volume as has been in the past, LNG will be taxed on its energy equivalent relative to diesel. Based on the high-fuel-use applications that LNG most benefits, which compete mainly with diesel fuel, this creates more easily equalized comparisons for fleet operators, as well as the tax benefits.

Westport aftermarket systems show Autopromotec visitors high performance capabilities

Offering high performance solutions for drivers are an Emer diesel duel fuel for heavy-duty and Prins LPG system for direct injection light-duty petrol engines

In Italy in May, Westport attended Autopromotec, a leading aftermarket event, showcasing its Prins and Emer brands.

Both Westport brands offer systems for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or autogas) and compressed natural gas (CNG) for a wide range of engines. By using alternative fuels like CNG or LPG, drivers can immediately save fuel costs and reduce emissions such as CO2 and particulate matter. 

Natural gas vehicles and Lone Star State hospitality for ACT Expo attendees

With a number of new product announcements for Westport and Cummins Westport, and a tour of our local installation facility, this year’s Alternative Clean Transportation Expo (ACT Expo) in Dallas was a busy event for Westport.

Westport's Paul Shaffer with the 2016 Ford F-150 at ACT Expo

Leading this year’s ACT Expo announcements was Ford’s unveiling of the model year 2016 Ford F-150, available with a gaseous prep package for compressed natural gas (CNG). As one of Ford’s leading Qualified Vehicle Modifiers (QVM), Westport provided a fresh-from-the-floor model for the announcement, featuring the Westport WiNG Power System, which allows the vehicle to operate in either dedicated CNG or bi-fuel options.

Westport Parts + Service Debuts at Automechanika in Chicago

Westport Parts + Service: combining technology, market experience and OE manufacturing excellence.

Natural gas vehicle fleets and drivers require the highest quality parts and service available to maintain their alternative fuel engine systems. Westport Parts + Service—a new division of Westport Innovations—is launching this week at Automechanika in Chicago. Automechanika Chicago is the largest tradeshow and training event for the Automotive Aftermarket industry.

The Westport Parts + Service booth #2724 at Automechanika Chicago

Westport Parts + Service also announces the opportunity for distributors to join us and our key partners in delivering reliable, accessible original engine (OE) quality parts and service to the growing North American natural gas vehicle market.

2016 Bi-Fuel Volvo V60 & V70 Unveiled: High Performance, Low Emissions

Westport launches 2016 Bi-fuel Volvo V60 and V70 in Gothenburg, Sweden

To celebrate the launch of the model year 2016 Volvo cars featuring the recently announced Drive-E featuring Westport natural gas combustion technology, Westport Sweden hosted an event March 25 and 26 at the Volvo test track in Göteburg (Gothenburg).

Ulf Möck of Volvo test drives the new 2016 bi-fuel Volvo

Volvo Cars is the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to feature the new Westport system. It will be used on Volvo's new two-litre, direct injection, four-cylinder Drive-E powertrain family, which will be available on the Volvo V60 and V70 2016 models.

Westport brands to display at GasShow Warsaw in Poland March 5-6, 2015

Westport brands offer fleets direct injection liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, or propane autogas) systems for mono, bi- and dual fuel applications, compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) systems, components and more.

Westport has a strong background in engineering the most advanced natural gas engines and vehicles for OEM customers. Therefore Westport – including Prins, Emer, OMVL, Valtek – can offer you an even bigger range of high quality products optimized for CO2 reduction, particulate reduction and saving fuel costs.

Colorado keeps alternative fuel vehicles on the road with grant program

Are you considering natural gas or other alternative fuel for your fleet in Colorado? There’s only one 

week left to apply for this cycle of Alt Fuels Colorado program funding.

With applications due March 3, 2015, funding of up to 80 percent of the incremental cost of a Class 2 to Class 8 alternative fuel vehicle is available in 11 Colorado counties.

The grant covers light-, medium-, and heavy-duty vehicles – from pickups to refuse trucks – operated by public, private or non-profit fleets. Alternative fuel vehicles must be new, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) models powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane autogas), electricity (EV), or CNG bi-fuel.

Eligible fleets include those based, “in or near the Colorado ozone non-attainment and/or carbon monoxide maintenance areas” and operating at least 60 percent of the time in those areas.[1]

Natural Gas is on a Roll - "Go With Natural Gas" Workshops

Guest blog post by Cameron Rittich
Western Hub Program Manager, Go with Natural Gas

The transport sector is increasingly interested in natural gas engines and the cost savings, environmental benefits, and noise reduction possible through their use. The Go with Natural Gas Hub in conjunction with the PIT Group (a group of FPInnovations) is determined to support this trend by encouraging its members, every organization in the transport industry and fleets, to take advantage of natural gas for medium and heavy duty trucks, by attending specialized workshops focused on natural gas vehicles (NGVs).

The workshops are free of charge and will provide information on:

• Comparing the properties, price, and environmental footprint of natural gas to that of diesel 
• Factors to consider when determining whether NGVs are suited for your needs 
• Evaluating your options and available technologies for filling stations 
• Considerations for maintenance facility modification or new construction 
• A fleet case study from an early adopter 

Free Webinar: The Advantages of CNG for Your School Bus Fleet Presented by Collins Bus and Westport

Switching to natural gas for transportation can provide a safer, cleaner and less expensive fuel option for a wide range of public transportation organizations such as school districts, child and senior care facilities, municipalities and other businesses that rely on the Type A school bus.

Fleets interested in learning more about the new Type A compressed natural gas (CNG) Collins Bus with the Westport WiNG™ Power System, can attend a free, live webinar on January 29, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. PST / 12:00 p.m. CST / 1:00 p.m. EST.

Pacific NorthWest Delegates Look at LNG Measurement, Taxation and Transportation

Brian Dracup, Senior Director, LNG Rail and Tender Program Development participated in a six person panel discussing natural gas for transportation as part of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region 2014 summit, held in Whistler this week. The panel was co-chaired by B.C.’s Deputy Premier, Minister of Energy, Natural Gas, and Mines Rich Coleman.

At the conclusion of the panel, PNWER organizers stated they would form a working group of interested participants to discuss how to harmonize the way LNG is measured and how to make the way LNG is taxed common within the PNWER region.

OSU Cascades Tries On-Board Compressors for NGVs

An OSU Cascades research team is finding a cheaper way for natural gas vehicle fueling at home

While natural gas fuel stations are opening across the United States, the concern of consistently finding fuel is still a stumbling block for the average consumer wanting to buy a natural gas vehicle (NGV). One solution is home fueling, and a team led by Dr. Chris Hagen, Assistant Professor, Energy Systems Engineering at Oregon State University (OSU) Cascades, thinks it has the answer.

OSU secured U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding in 2012 to modify a passenger vehicle so its internal combustion could be used to compress natural gas for storage on the vehicle. The goal is to reduce the cost and time for home-refueling, and to improve the convenience and cost for the average consumer owning a natural gas vehicle.

With over $900,000 of DOE ARPA-E funding, Dr. Hagen is the principal investigator, with support from Colorado State University and engineering firm CZero, Inc. He’s also co-founded a company to develop the technology commercially.

Dr. Hagen said the team wanted to leverage the sophistication of the modern internal combustion engine when brainstorming for a natural gas solution. Using the engine to act as the compressor, they don’t have repeating parts in a compressor on the garage wall, reducing the overall cost of self-fueling.

L to R, Dr. Chris Hagen, Zachary Taie, Robert Elgin III, Josh Tibbitts in the OSU Energy Systems Laboratory next to their bi-modal compression/combustion engine

The design concept involves adapting one of the cylinders to compress gas when parked overnight. This could enable wider adoption of natural gas because vehicle owners have the freedom to fill up at home or elsewhere. Owners could fuel at a fueling station, at home, or even another’s home when traveling – provided the friends have a natural gas utility connection enabled for it. “One of the beauties of this technology,” says Hagen, “is that the compressor rides with you.”

The development engine was modified to allow for two separate “modes” of operation. In commute mode used for driving, the engine runs as normal, firing on all cylinders. In refueling mode, the one or two modified engine cylinders compress gas while the other cylinders operate normally to power the compression and cool the system.

NGV Today Survey Finds Cummins Westport ISX12 G the Biggest NGV News of 2013

Cummins Westport ISX12 G

Industry publication NGV Today has called the Cummins Westport ISX12 G engine the highest-impact news of 2013 in the North American NGV space, according to a poll of the publication’s readers in late December.

2013 was the launch year of the Cummins Westport ISX12 G with most major OEMs offering the 320-400 horsepower engine in multiple chassis for applications such as refuse and short-haul. Many fleets have now received their orders, among them Seaboard, UPS, FedEx, Linde and others.

“The ISX12 G product launch has been a success,” said Gordon Exel, President of Cummins Westport. “All the OEMs are actively engaged and taking and delivering orders in a variety of applications up to 80,000 pounds GVW. We are seeing both CNG and LNG fuel applications as fuelling infrastructure becomes available.”

Building Your Business Case for Natural Gas: A Case Study - Westport Webinar

Ten months ago, Mark Huff, president of Tri-Star Construction in Tulsa, Oklahoma, started making the switch to natural gas vehicles for his fleet. He estimates that in less than one year, it’s saved his business about 40 percent in fuel costs.

As his natural gas fleet is less than a year old, Mark says he’ll have a better idea what the overall savings are once he completes a full tax year. Still, he believes it’s making a difference to his bottom line, and that it could eventually mean big savings for his company and his customers.

“Anything we can do to save, we’ll pass along to our customers,” he says. “We sometimes do $1 million to $2 million jobs, and if you can shave one to two percent off bids, that’s big money. It’s a win for everyone.”

On October 10, Mark will be sharing his experience in a free Westport webinar, Building Your Business Case for Natural Gas: A Case Study. Before switching to natural gas, Mark spent about six months crunching the numbers and assessing if natural gas was the right option for his fleet of Ford F-250s.

During the webinar, Mark will outline the process he undertook and the analytics he used in order to make a decision that was best for his business and his customers.

“I went to a compressed natural gas (CNG) summit where several businesses in Tulsa that had already adopted CNG were speaking” Mark says about his first step towards adopting a natural gas fleet. “Everybody who’s made the change is positive.”

Another ongoing benefit Mark has seen – literally – from operating a natural gas fleet, which includes four Westport WiNG™ Power System bi-fuel Ford F-250s, is a reduced cost in maintenance. For instance, he believes his trucks need far fewer oil changes than those running purely on gasoline.

“We’ve been draining the oil at 3,000 miles and it looks brand new,” Mark explains. “I’ve seen the oil at 5,000 miles and it looks brand new. They run so clean that I’d be confident saying they could go 7,000 miles between oil changes. It’s another perk.”

If you’re considering the shift to natural gas and would like to hear about a real-life case study, please register for this free webinar here.

Europe’s Natural Gas Vehicle Industry Stakeholders Meet this November in Amsterdam

European stakeholders across the supply chain are preparing for the 2nd Annual Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Conference and Exhibition on November 25-26 in Amsterdam. This is Westport’s second year at the event and we’re excited to have another opportunity to encourage expanding Europe’s NGV market.

Along with promoting natural gas as a viable transportation fuel, this year’s NGV Conference and Expo will have a strong focus on informing fleet customers of the benefits that switching to natural gas can bring to their businesses.

Westport’s Director of Market Development, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Nadège Leclercq says, “We like the idea of fleet operators being better informed about the possibilities and advantages of using natural gas as a vehicle fuel, because today most of the transportation companies are not aware. At this event they will be able to learn from major European companies that are already using natural gas vehicles. We believe it will be very valuable to share this experience.”

Contributing to this goal is Gordon Exel, Westport’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Americas and EMEA, who’ll be speaking at the conference. Attendees will also hear expert insights and outlooks from organisations such as Volvo Trucks, Gazprom Export, Daimler AG and the European Commission among many other key market players.

The event’s aim is to provide solutions for Europe’s transportation industry and show fleet organisations how to effectively and seamlessly integrate natural gas fuel into their operations.

Fleet owners and operators will learn about important gas engine technology updates and current investments in expanding the fuelling infrastructure network from senior level attendees representing the leading fleets, gas producers, utilities, fuel distributors and infrastructure developers. Owners and operators will also have a chance to connect with other transportation and fleet companies who’ve already made the switch to natural gas-fuelled fleets.

The demand for NGVs and infrastructure is growing, and with Europe’s increasingly stricter emissions standards, the NGV conference is more pertinent than ever. NGVs can significantly contribute to Europe’s CO2 emission reduction objectives. In January 2013, the European Commission announced plans for a network of compressed and liquefied natural gas refuelling stations covering the whole European Union.

Don’t wait… Mark your calendar and visit the Natural Gas Vehicle Conference website to register for the event!

Environmental Defense Fund and University of Texas release Production Module Results for Methane Leakage

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) yesterday released the results of the first module of a multi-partner study on methane emissions in the natural gas fuel chain, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

This study provides another important data source to assess fugitive methane emissions associated with natural gas production. According to the study results, the methane leakage rate is 2,300 gigagrams (Gg) or 0.42% of gross production, which aligns with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest estimates of 2,545 Gg (2011 national emissions inventory).

It’s also interesting to note that 99% of methane that could potentially be emitted is captured (or prevented from being emitted to the atmosphere), showing the progress already made by the industry. Pneumatic controllers and equipment leakage at the production site have been singled out as ongoing sources of methane emissions, giving the industry direction on where more reductions can be made.

This module is part of a series of studies that will assess the entire natural gas production, processing and supply chain. The “pump to wheels” module is expected to be released early/mid 2014. Westport is a partner in this effort and is supplying technical support to West Virginia University researchers who are field testing vehicles with Westport and Cummins Westport engines.

Westport is participating in the EDF study to improve understanding of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction benefits of commercial and heavy duty natural gas vehicles and fueling stations. Studies like this, with a range of industry partners like Shell, Volvo, Westport, Cummins Westport and fleet operators, offer the opportunity to collect data under real-world operating conditions. The study is being rigorously peer-reviewed, and will advance industry and academic knowledge about the GHG emissions reduction benefits of heavy-duty natural gas vehicles. Each of the modules will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the potential for methane leakage and opportunities for innovation and improvement.

The use of natural gas in transportation is a relatively new market; one that is evolving and improving and with the potential for deeper GHG emission reductions compared to diesel. These types of collaborations will help advance the industry, drive improvements across engines, vehicles and stations and uncover best practices to further safeguard the environmental advantages of natural gas.

Changing the Way the Future Looks Here and Now

Westport is Changing the Way the World Moves. We’re also changing the way we express who we are as a company, how our products and services benefit the world, and where we see the role of natural gas in the future of global transportation.

Today, Westport launched Here and Now, a new look and message that defines who we are.

We are changing to reflect the new world of transportation where natural gas plays a significant role and where our opportunities lie – Here and Now. Why now? Because Westport has moved natural gas transportation from a brilliant idea into a wide range of products, and by doing so, we’re changing the way companies do business, the way goods are moved, the way the job site works, the way cities run and the way the future looks.

Our new look and feel celebrates and showcases where you see our technology at work in the world. Our name and logo remain the same, but as we said earlier, year 2013 is a year of transition, a year of evolution. The coming months promise to continue to drive change and evolution and we’re prepared for what’s around the next corner by designing the most advanced natural gas vehicles and engines the world has ever seen. Not just for cars and trucks. But for any vehicle that carries a payload, crosses the water, or thunders down the tracks.

Check out our new brand video that tells the Westport Here and Now story:

Visit us at www.westport.com and follow us @WestportDotCom to learn more.