Ford Germany has announced that its LPG and CNG-powered cars' performance has been improved. According to the press release, gas-powered Fords have improved their consumption up to 1 liter/100 km, which allows the cars to have 50km (30 miles) more range, that is, about 450 km on gas and 750 additional km on unleaded.

Not only that, thanks to a new facility in Saarlouis, Ford has improved its production capabilities. All LPG variants will be made in the new facility in Saarlouis, which allows a global production of 2,000 units of Focus and Focus C-MAX models, while the existing facility in Mainz will be producing CNG variants exclusively (300 Focus, 250 Focus C-MAX) as well as the Ford Transit Van LPG variant (150 units).

Prices for factory-guaranteed conversions are €3,275 and €2,500 (CNG/LPG respectively) for the Ford Focus or C-MAX and €3,950 or €2,920 for the for the Ford Transit van (CNG/LPG respectively).

[Source: Ford]

If you listened to or read our post on T. Boone Pickens speaking at the AFVI Expo in May, then you know that he's a big proponent of wind power and natural gas (some say he needs to learn more about hydrogen cars). Mr. Swift Boat is all over the media today because of an announcement regarding something called "The Plan," Pickens' big new idea to shift some of the $700b the U.S. spends each year on foreign oil into increasing domestic energy production. Unsurprisingly, Pickens says that wind and natural gas are the ways to go. Maybe this is what he meant when he said he wanted to be a player in the fall election.

Pickens spoke to NPR this morning about The Plan, which includes installing 2,500 wind turbines in Texas to deal with Peak oil (The Plan website says that happened in 2005). As for natural gas, Pickens says it should win as a power source for vehicles because it is cheaper than gas, abundant and domestic.

If you need a jolt of irony with your lunch today, check this out. Pickens told NPR that, "The mistake was made because we didn't have the leadership that stepped up and said, 'We cannot continue to import foreign oil.'" One reason no one stepped might be that people like Pickens invested a lot in oil companies looking for oil in foreign lands. Sheesh. h/t to Dave B.

[Source: Pickens Plan, NPR]

We know that T. Boone Pickens is a fan of natural gas, but powering vehicles with the clean-burning fossil fuel isn't exactly on the top of Americans' wishlist. The newly-formed Natural Gas Vehicle Purchasing Cooperative (NGV Co-Op), started by CALSTART and operational in three states (Arizona, Nevada and California), will help fleet managers "to quickly identify, locate, and purchase a wide range of light-, medium-, and select heavy- duty natural gas vehicles at the best prices." Most CNG vehicles available today are larger work trucks, so aiming at the fleet market makes sense. The current list of available vehicles includes the following:

• Honda Civic GX;
• Chevrolet Express Van
• Chevrolet Silverado pickup
• GMC Sierra pickup
• GMC Topkick
• Ford E-450 shuttle bus
• Ford Crown Victoria
• Ford F-150
• F-250 pickup
• Ford Van
• Ford E-350 cutaway

The types, makes and models on this list will grow as more vehicles become available, and CALSTART also wants to bring the co-operative bidding process to other locations in the future. See the NGV Co-Op's announcement here.

[Source: NGV Co-op]

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It was hard to miss the colorfully-decorated natural gas truck that Sterling Truck Corporation brought to the AFVI Show in Las Vegas this week. This is a huge cab that Sterling is calling the Set-Back 113, and the company claims it can save fleet operators up to six grand a year in fuel and operating costs, on top of any tax credits and other government incentives. There was no one at the booth who could talk to us about the truck, but this is where press releases come in handy.

Fleet operators were a big part of the AFVI Show, especially yesterday (it was Fleet Day, after all, and today is Public Day) and the main customer base that Sterling will likely be selling the Set-Back 113 to are port operators, natural gas utilities and municipalities. Natural gas is burned in a Cummins Westport ISL G 8.9 liter stoichiometric cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine. Sterling says this combination "offers the lowest emissions available in the industry without sacrificing top-level performance and efficiency." At the very least, the ISL G with its maintenance-free exhaust system already meets 2010 emissions standards. The display version is pretty, too. Check it out in the gallery below.


[Source: Sterling]

Motorcycle, scooter and moped manufacturers in India are worried. Since Tata announced their ultra-cheap Nano, the two-wheeled industry is abuzz with worry that the populace will quickly abandon their old single-track vehicles for the safety and convenience of a four-wheeler if the price points get too close. This is a rational concern, and it is exactly why Tata's created the Nano in the first place.

In an effort to persuade buyers to stick with their bikes, the major manufacturers in India, including Bajaj, Honda and Kinetic, are all working on natural gas options for their various offerings. According to this article, each of these companies has contacted Energtek, a leader in absorbed natural gas (ANG) technology for help in implementing the conversion process. The advantages to using the ANG lie primarily with price, however there are also eco-benefits to be had, as natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil-fuels. We have to wonder, though, what would stop companies like Tata from using similar technology in their low-priced automobiles.

Related:

• VIDEO: Live reveal of the $2,500 Tata Nano
• Here's the $2,500 Tata Nano, the Indian peoples car

[Source: Red Orbit]

Mercedes-Benz has just introduced a new dual-fueled version of the Sprinter van that can run on either gasoline or natural gas. The big van is powered by a 156hp supercharged 1.8L four cylinder with 177lb-ft of torque. Mercedes claims the Sprinter NGT has thirty percent lower operating costs than the diesel version thanks to tax breaks on natural gas. The Sprinter is available in wide range of configurations including the panel van shown, low and tall roof cargo vans, and passenger vans. Depending on the body style, up to six CNG tanks can be fitted below the floor providing a range of up to 745 miles. The Sprint NGT will be available starting in May.

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]