Back-to-School Is Easy with Collins Type A School Bus Featuring Westport WiNG

Largest Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier Delivers Solutions with Collins Bus Corporation

The Back-to-School season is here and school districts are busy planning for the next academic year. For some school systems new transportation budgets may be identified, while others may need to replace old school buses unexpectedly.

In either case, school districts and municipalities are increasingly looking for school buses with alternative fuel options, such as compressed natural gas, to support their sustainability efforts while decreasing fuel costs.

State of the Union Addresses Natural Gas Vehicles

The natural gas vehicle (NGV) industry was in the spotlight last week, making headlines after U.S. President Barak Obama’s remarks in his annual State of the Union address in support of switching more cars and trucks from oil to natural gas:

…natural gas – if extracted safely, it’s the bridge fuel that can power our economy with less of the carbon pollution that causes climate change...I’ll cut red tape to help states get those factories built, and this Congress can help by putting people to work building fueling stations that shift more cars and trucks from foreign oil to American natural gas.

In addition, three bills were proposed last week by U.S. Representatives Lee Terry and Sam Graves, both Republican Congressmen, geared at increasing the number of natural gas trucks. The bills propose multiple measures to increase the adoption rate of natural gas including: designated natural gas fueling corridors for long haul traffic, truck weight exemptions for the additional weight of natural gas tanks, and a task force to evaluate duel adoption transition barriers.

While these bills have to go through multiple stages before they can be voted on in Congress, Paul Kerkhoven, Director, Government Relations of NGVAmerica, says the initiatives may end up being incorporated into more comprehensive legislation, such as the Highway Bill.

“Anytime the President says natural gas three times, it’s a good thing for the industry,” Paul says. “These developments indicate a heightened interest in increasing the discussion at the national level around how to encourage a switch from gasoline or diesel, to natural gas.”

Paul adds both Congressmen Terry and Graves are strong NGV supporters and his organization is working with them to further their ideas and efforts towards the increasing use of NGVs.

Some industry supporters are eager for immediate action. T. Boone Pickens, Founder of BP Capital and the Pickens Fuel Corp. – the predecessor company to Clean Energy – told Pickens Plan Facebook page followers that the President should “Sign an executive order mandating government vehicles use natural gas, and that those who contract with the federal government for goods and services do, too.”

Paul says national-level attention puts the cause in the spotlight:

“The industry has done a good job of education and increasing awareness. People are concentrating on it and looking at it – it’s always a good thing.”

Natural Gas Now!

Don’t miss Westport’s must-attend natural gas vehicle event and expert panel on March 19

Join Westport for a first-hand experience of the latest in natural gas vehicle technology and fueling infrastructure, on March 19 in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Learn about why the range, options and benefits of NGVs—from pick-up trucks to locomotives—are greater than ever, during the Westport Natural Gas Now open house and panel presentation.

Attendees will get first-hand knowledge about natural gas vehicles, infrastructure, owner experience, and get an up-close-and-personal look at a natural gas powered vehicles, fuel storage solutions and the Westport Kentucky Integration Center.

The expert panel will speak to their experience and answer questions:

• Fleet customer Lynn Lyons on Pioneer Natural Resources’ experience with their fleet of CNG powered 225 Ford F-250 pickups and natural gas heavy duty vehicles.
• Fuel provider Clean Energy’s James Harger on infrastructure – fuel availability is key for fleets. Learn about the resources that are helping fleets transition to natural gas.
• Westport CEO David Demers on why shifting to natural gas makes so much sense, for the economy, the environment and the country.
• Westport Executive Vice President Ian Scott will discuss the latest in natural gas truck and related fueling systems. 

Participants are invited to join us for a lively session to broaden their NGV education, and enjoy some Kentucky hospitality with food and refreshments, while touring Westport’s facility in Louisville.

Activities include:

• Show & shine—kick the tires on a wide range of Westport-powered natural gas vehicles, from Ford pick-ups, to Class 8 trucks, to fueling systems
• Ride & drive—opportunities to drive natural gas powered Ford Super Duty trucks
• Westport Kentucky Integration Center tours 

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Location: Westport Kentucky Integration Center (WKIC) 3661 Collins Lane Louisville, KY 40245

Westport is pleased to offer shuttles to and from Louisville hotels.

Speaker information and registration are online at:

http://www.westport.com/news-events/events/natural-gas-now#register

More DOE Support for NGVs in Our Future

On July 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 13 new projects to advance natural gas vehicle (NGV) technologies, all in light-duty applications, through its Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E).

Aimed specifically at new developments for natural gas tanks and potential home-fueling, the natural gas industry can only be pleased that Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman has said:

“These projects could transform America’s energy infrastructure and economy by utilizing domestic energy sources to power our vehicles…”

While the rationale behind funding many of the early-stage projects is their risk level for private investment, the DOE sees real potential for NGVs in America’s future and is prepared to invest in them.

Clearly demand for NGVs is increasing. And now, not only the DOE, but others are encouraged to tackle the passenger vehicle market.

The projects follow others that ARPA-E, launched by President Barack Obama in 2009, has proven successful by supporting. Many of its projects secured private capital after initial funding from ARPA-E.

Westport Innovations has benefit from DOE support over the years, and the success of its technology in all markets is proof positive that research support can ultimately translate into commercial application. Initially focused on the heavy-duty markets, Westport has expanded in a big way into light-duty, targeting fleets initially, but also the average consumer.

In passenger vehicles alone, Westport LD has acquired global NGV system and component operations in Australia, Italy and Sweden, launched its new Westport WiNG Power System this spring for Ford F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks, and secured a relationship with General Motors to develop two different combustion, controls and emissions approaches to natural gas engines.

The DOE also sponsored early research that helped in the development of many new natural gas resources in the U.S. The NGV technology projects support its efforts to act on President Obama’s call for “the safe, responsible development of the near 100-year supply of U.S. natural gas resources, which has the potential to support more than 600,000 American jobs,” according to the DOE.

Not likely that any NGV enthusiast will argue these are all great steps forward to a more energy independent future. Natural gas for transportation is here today – and here to stay for a good, long while.

Inside Westport: Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs

At Westport our focus is not just developing leading technologies for allowing engines to run on natural gas; we work with industry partners to help develop the market for natural gas vehicles. For instance, our Manager of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Tahra J. devotes her time to, in her words, “breaking down barriers for the deployment of natural gas vehicles (NGVs).”

Tahra’s role at Westport is integral to the increased adoption of natural gas vehicles. She works with internal and external stakeholders to provide information and to pursue current and upcoming grants and incentives applicable to Westport products and research. Not only does she seek incentives that might help businesses shift their fleets to natural gas, she also advocates on behalf of Westport and works to affect legislation and policy for the increased use of natural gas in transportation. In jurisdictions where incentives don’t yet exist, she works with industry peers and local governments to examine how natural gas can help satisfy air quality requirements and ease the finances of local fleets through the adoption of cleaner lower cost fuels. How does she decide where to focus on developing incentives? She gives priority to areas where there are many Westport customers for whom funding would be helpful.

On any given day, Tahra is doing government relations and regulatory work for primarily our heavy-duty business. This includes assessing legislation and regulations that affect the deployment of natural gas vehicles or technologies and ensuring that Westport is well informed about what is happening within the natural gas industry and the external political environment.

In addition, Tahra also works to ensure Westport is represented in key meetings and conferences to provide input to advance the discussion on transitioning away from diesel fuel and to provide leadership and expertise to fleets, policy makers and the public on the advantages of natural gas for transportation .