International
Canada: government joins industry to release NGV deployment roadmap
The Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA) released a new report titled: Natural Gas Use in the Medium and Heavy-Duty Transportation Sector. After extensive consultations with the NGV industry and fleet users, this updated report builds on the observations and recommendations of a 2010 report, and incorporates updated information on natural gas supply including: an extensive section on biogas; information on technical developments as well as codes and standards advances; and examples of significant fleet successes to date.
“This roadmap is an important tool for Canadians and industry to have more choices when it comes to transportation. Our government is working with partners to provide more options to get products and people where they need to go, while reducing pollution and growing our economy,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources.
Report Observations:
- The use of natural gas as a transportation fuel can offer significant emission reduction benefits, with up to 25% GHG emissions reduction potential depending on the vehicle and fueling system being used. The emergence of biomethane provides added emission reduction benefits for the transportation industry.
- Significant use of NGVs by refuse, transit and trucking firms, as well as the use of natural gas as a fuel option by marine carriers, illustrate the market’s readiness for the technology in Canada and the potential for both cost and emissions’ savings.
- There is a strong business case for NGVs in Canada. Natural gas costs remain stable, and high fuel usage fleets can benefit from cost savings. Additional regulatory measures favor the emissions’ reductions associated with NGVs accentuating the business case.
- Abundant supply of geological natural gas and the growing supply of biomethane to continued price stability and enhanced life-cycle emission reductions.
- Extensive OEM engine offerings for the on-road market, as well as a growing number of specialty off-road and marine engines, are being used by Canadian transportation fleets.
- More industry and government support is needed to help fleets defray risks, including up-front vehicle cost premiums; greater access to refueling facilities to improve reach in the transportation sector; maintenance facility upgrades for both fleets and vendors; capital investment to enable production, processing, blending and connecting biomethane supply to existing pipelines; stronger outreach tuned to the needs and concerns of various fleet users; and investments in R&D efforts, including collaborative partnerships with all levels of government, other countries, and research institutions.
The revised Deployment Roadmap provides a good point of departure for the industry and prospective fleet adopters to understand the opportunities that NGVs offer. Much like the 2010 report, Natural Gas Vehicle Use in the Medium and Heavy-Duty Transportation Sector is a starting point for a renewed industry-government effort to support deployment and cost and emissions savings for Canadian fleets.
“Continued industry and government collaboration – as exemplified by this report – is a key attribute that will advantage Canada in attaining cost and emissions reductions. NGVs are key in assisting Canada meet its immediate and long-term emissions reduction objectives. Canada’s NGV industry is poised and ready to be part of global efforts to lower emissions while keeping transportation affordable,” added Bruce Winchester, Executive Director of CNGVA.