The Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum (NGVTF) is revitalizing its efforts to develop and deploy commercially competitive natural gas engines, vehicles, and infrastructure. In June 2008, NGVTF leaders met in Diamond Bar, California, to formulate strategies and establish an NGVTF Steering Committee. The first NGVTF all-stakeholder meeting under this new leadership took place in November 2008. A summary of presentations is available in the NGVTF meetings section.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is a driving force behind today's natural gas vehicle (NGV) research. In 2008, the CEC published a Natural Gas Vehicle Research Roadmap (PDF 644 KB), which describes the strategic research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) needed to enhance the viability of the NGV market in California. Download Adobe Reader. This framework is applicable to NGV efforts in other parts of the United States as well, and the NGVTF is using it as a starting point for its work.
In developing the Research Roadmap, the CEC collected information from a literature review, RDD&D gap analysis, and stakeholder feedback to identify RDD&D priorities that would most effectively accelerate NGV market penetration. Following is an outline of these priorities:
Integrate available natural gas engines into more models and applications by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), all classes
Develop a broader range of heavy–duty NGV engine sizes and applications
Develop a broader range of heavy–duty vehicles (HDVs) with improved engine economics, efficiency, and emissions
Develop NGV homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine technology
Develop NGV versions of off–road applications
Develop a variety of hybrid natural gas HDVs
Develop engine technology optimized for hydrogen/compressed natural gas (HCNG) fuel
Develop onboard lightweight, conformable, compact compressed natural gas (CNG) storage at lower pressure/higher density
Develop legacy fleet engine controls and/or fueling infrastructure upgrades to accommodate fuel variability
Develop the next generation of home refueling for light-duty NGVs
Research an improved composite tank safety device/installation protocol to avoid rupture in localized fire
Develop improved handling, reliability, and durability of liquefied natural gas (LNG) dispensing and onboard storage
Conduct a forecasting study of post–2010 NGVs and their likely benefits, including a review of new/upcoming technologies and their potential to adequately enhance NGVs' ability to be a successful alternative fuel portfolio option
Create a web–based clearinghouse for NGV needs and OEM/third–party vehicle offerings, which OEMs could use to identify the best integration and development efforts to pursue and policy makers could use to identify priority integration and development projects
Revitalize the Natural Gas Vehicle Technology Forum to bring together stakeholders from all aspects of the NGV market to share insights about the barriers and solutions they have encountered
For information about CEC's work, see their Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Natural Gas R&D Program.
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Visit the Transit and School Bus Users Group to learn about meetings and information designed specifically for natural gas transit and school bus fleets.