The Clean Energy Jobs 5 and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010 has given a significant boost to both natural gas and plug-in vehicles.

There will be up to $3.8billion in rebates for buyers of natural gas powered vehicles; while $400million will support the deployment of plug-in vehicles in targeted communities. The addition of the provision for electric vehicles was said to be a last minute decision.

As part of the bill, the Department of Energy establishes a Natural Gas Vehicle and Infrastructure Development Program that includes the $3.8billion rebate program for qualified owners that convert or repower a conventionally fuelled vehicle to operate on compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas or to a mixed- or bi-fuel vehicle.  

In general, the rebates target medium- and heavy-duty vehicles with not more than 25 per cent to be used to provide rebates to qualified owners to buy alternative fuel vehicles.

The plug-in electric drive vehicle deployment programme, meanwhile, will assist with the introduction of plug-in vehicles in an effort to reduce the use of petrol and reduce the number of greenhouse gas emissions.

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Alternative fuels will soon be available in some of Ford’s largest and traditionally most gas-guzzling models.

The company is to offer an alternative fuels engine prep package on both the 6.8litre F-450 and the F-550 Super Duty chassis cab. The conversion option will enable the vehicles to use compressed natural gas or propane.

Details were presented as part of the Ford Fleet Product and Business Conference in Dearborn with the F-450 and F-550 to become the latest in a line of commercial vehicles to get the alternative fuel option. Ford first introduced the package to the E-Series last autumn and has since shipped 3,000 E-Series vans with CNG/LPG-prepped 5.4litre and 6.8litre gas engines to fleet operators including the likes of Schwan’s Home Delivery Service and Verizon. The package is also available with the Transit Connect and Ford is expected to add the option to the F-53 motor home chassis and the F-59 commercial strip chassis before the end of the year.

According to Ford, the F-450 and F-550’s 6.8litre V-10 engine is well suited to the conversion because it comes with hardened exhaust valves and valve seats as well as improved wear resistance and durability.

Ford now hopes that the new options will help further its share of commercial and government fleet sales which currently stand at 32 per cent and 44 per cent respectively.

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Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) could be the key components as General Motors attempts to gain new customers for its full-size van fleets.

The manufacturer will offer both CNG and LPG versions of the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana to fleet and commercial customers starting later this year. The vans have been specially designed and come with a fully integrated and warranted gaseous fuel system in place.

The proven Vortex 6.0l V8 engine will be boosted by hardened exhaust valves and intake and exhaust valve seats that will improve wear resistance and durability. Both systems will be fully integrated into the vehicle and will meet EPA and CARB certification requirements.

According to Brian Small, the general manager of GM’s fleet and commercial operations, the industry’s commitment to expand CNG and LPG infrastructure was an enabler to introduce these options now and the move proves that GM is listening to its customers.

The CNG vans will be made available from the 2011 model year onwards with both CNG and LPG vans to carry GM’s limited new vehicle warranty including the five-year/100,000 mile transferable GM powertrain limited warranty. The LPG gaseous fuel system will be offered in 2011 model year cutaway vans to fleet and commercial customers.

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The Chevrolet Volt may grab most of the headlines, but General Motors has other exciting products ready to enter dealerships in 2010.

From the first quarter of the new-year, GM Europe will launch the Chevrolet Spark, an all-new mini-car. As the fastest growing segment of the market globally, the mini-car segment represents almost 10 per cent of the total European passenger car market – up from 6.5 per cent in 2008 and less than five per cent in 2005.

So what does the Spark have to offer?

The vehicle will have a choice of two petrol engines – displacements of 1.0 and 1.2litres. They use a cast-iron block and alloy head, as well as a double overhead camshaft and four valves per cylinder. They also feature multi-port fuel injection and are both Euro V emissions compliant.

Both engines include advanced features such as port deactivation which improves exhaust gas recirculation and leads to optimal fuel efficiency and idle stability. It also helps ensure low maintenance and running costs with the Spark consuming as little as 5.1litres of fuel per 100km and producing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a meagre 119g/km. 

The smaller of the units can power the car from 0-62mph in 15.5 seconds, with a top speed of 96mph. The 1.0lite Chevrolet Spark has a fuel consumption rating of 46mpg and it produces 93Nm of torque at 4,800rpm. The larger unit, meanwhile, achieves 111Nm at 4,800rpm and accelerates from 0-62mph in 12.1seconds. It can reach a top speed of 102mph and its fuel consumption remains the same as the 1.0litre version.

In addition, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) versions of both engines will be rolled out in select European markets beginning with Italy in February and followed in France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Poland and a handful of additional countries.

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Though its future remains in doubt as General Motors negotiates with two potential buyers for the brand, Opel is still making headway in the European market by launching five dual-fuel liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) models.

The models will be the Corsa (two different engines), Meriva, Astra station wagon and Zafira with each boasting a wide performance range and expanding the company’s ecoFLEX range with alternative propulsion. They can run on both petrol and LPG, with a switch taking place automatically or by pressing a button.

The vehicles will feature an LPG tank that will be located either in the spare wheel well (Corsa, Meriva, Astra station wagon) or under the vehicle floor (Zafira). Opel believes that these models offer a number of advantages compared to retrofit solutions as the powertrain is designed for operation with LPG and special valves and valve-seat inserts have been used to ensure durability. The vehicles have also been through extensive endurance tests, with the LPG tank subjected to crash tests to meet safety standards. The vehicles also cost just an extra €2,200 – that’s lower than that of most retrofit solutions.

The operating range has also been boosted significantly. For example, the LPG Astra station wagon can travel 808 miles without needing to refuel while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have been slashed by 10-13 per cent.

Here is a preliminary look at the power and CO2 figures of each of the LPG models:

- Corsa 1.2 LPG ecoFLEX: 57kW; 127g/km.

- Corsa 1.4 LPG ecoFLEX: 64kW; 129g/km.

- Meriva 1.4 LPG ecoFLEX: 64kW; 129g/km.

- Astra Station Wagon 1.6 LPG ecoFLEX: 82kW; 142g/km.

- Zafira 1.8 LPG ecoFLEX: 100kW; 159g/km.

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The news unveiled by the BBC this week that children are at greater risk from harmful small particles in traffic pollution will have alarmed many motorists. However, the situation could be vastly improved with greater use of LPG technology,  Autogas Ltd say.

Vehicles running on LPG produce far fewer harmful emissions that contribute to environmental and health problems than traditional road fuels including the microscopic particles, known as PM10s, cited in the study led by Professor Jonathan Grigg at the Centre for Paediatrics at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

LPG vehicles emit up to 120 times less PM10 particles than a diesel vehicle. Added benefits include 17 per cent less carbon dioxide emissions than petrol and 2 per cent less than diesel, and 120 per cent less NOx than petrol and staggering 2,000 per cent less than diesel.

As reported by the BBC2, early findings from the study in London show that the lung capacity of 8 and 9 year olds is up to five per cent lower than the national average. This is likely to be caused by the fact that the situation is worst at roadside level – a similar height to young children.

Autogas Development Executive at LPG supplier Calor, Chris Taylor, says replacing petrol and diesel vehicles with LPG-powered alternatives could help reduce the severity of the situation.

He says: “We have always known that Autogas LPG is a viable alternative to petrol and diesel and a much greener fuel. The recent study confirms that PM10 particles are extremely harmful and can lead to respiratory disorders such as asthma in children and more serious conditions in later life.

“The number of LPG vehicles is travelling in the right direction. In 2008 we saw an increase of 36 per cent in the number of LPG conversions carried out year on year. There are now around 155,000 LPG vehicles on the UK’s roads.”

The rise in popularity of LPG Autogas is also due to the cost savings that can be enjoyed. Motorists running LPG vehicles can expect to save up to 40 per cent on fuel costs3 and, in many cases, can recover the cost of a conversion in under two years.

Motorists in and around London can also benefit from up to 100 per cent exemption from the London Congestion Charge and all LPG vehicle owners can expect increased residual vehicle values.

There are now more than 1,400 public access LPG refuelling sites with the majority of these on petrol forecourts. Autogas Limited, a joint venture between Calor and Shell, currently supplies around 220 outlets in the UK. A full list can be found at www.autogas.ltd.uk. In addition, Calor supplies autogas from over 150 outlets through its Calor Centres, Morrisons supermarkets and other independent sites.

For further information visit www.lpg-vehicles.co.uk.

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