A newly formed alliance composed of California air quality, transportation and energy officials and private sector representatives released a list of specific goals last week for the deployment of more natural gas powered vehicles (NGVs) across the state.

Reflecting its commitment to reduce tailpipe emissions and promote clean-air transportation, the California Natural Gas Vehicle Partnership set 3-10 year targets for increasing the number of NGVs in use from 19,000 to 619,000.

“The status quo is unacceptable to those of us cleaning up the air,” said Norma J. Glover, chair of the California NGV Partnership and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the public authority with responsibility for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. “With anticipated increases in population and vehicles on the road, not to mention energy security issues, California must deploy more low-emission vehicles powered by natural gas. Natural gas vehicles are clean and available today. That’s what these goals are about — taking practical steps now to assure clean air and a high quality of life for Californians.”

A member of the Newport Beach, CA City Council, Glover made the statement at a Washington, DC press briefing last Tuesday in conjunction with the World Natural Gas Vehicle 2002 conference. Specifically, Glover announced the partnership’s targets for California for the next 10 years.

Light-Duty Vehicle Deployment (passenger cars, pickup trucks, and small service vehicles and vans):

Heavy-Duty Vehicle Deployment: (Large vans, transit shuttles and buses, refuse haulers, school buses, large service trucks):

“If we meet these new targets, about 3% of the total number of vehicles on the road in California in 2012 will be powered by natural gas. That’s an aggressive, but attainable goal,” Glover added. The 19,000 NGVs on the road in California currently account for considerably less than 1% of the 20 million vehicles in use now.

The partnership said that achieving California’s new natural gas vehicle deployment goals will yield significant statewide emissions benefits and reduce the need for additional petroleum. Once the goals are fully implemented in the tenth year, the partnership calculated that statewide emissions will be reduced by nearly 6,000 tons of nitrogen oxide per year relative to what they would be if “traditional” gasoline or diesel powered vehicles were deployed instead.

The partnership added that for every one diesel-powered heavy-duty vehicle removed from the road and replaced by a natural gas vehicle, the emissions reduction is equivalent to removing approximately 325 gasoline powered cars from the road. Also, these goals when fully implemented will eliminate the need for 795 million gallons of gasoline and 817 million gallons of diesel fuel annually.

Dennis A. Smith, alternative fuels technology manager with the U.S. Department of Energy, said “With this approach, California continues to lead the way in taking steps to reduce vehicle emissions and promote clean air. California’s plan is likely to be a model for other states and regional jurisdictions.”

The group said the technology and infrastructure to mass-produce and service NGVs exists today, with companies such as American Honda Motor Co., Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, John Deere and Cummins Westport building the engines and vehicles. Two hundred filling stations serve current demands for fuel, while many more are being designed and constructed to meet future demand, the partnership said.

“The technology and infrastructure needed to meet California’s new deployment goals exist now. Attractive vehicles that are reasonably priced and easily serviceable, combined with readily available fuel, are on the market today,” said David R. Demers, CEO of Cummins Westport. “As demand rises, and new commercial technology is quickly brought to market, options for consumers and other users will only increase.”

The partnership said it also sees NGVs as a “bridge” to fuel cell hydrogen-powered vehicles, which produce zero emissions. Ford Motor Company currently manufactures natural gas vehicles and is involved in efforts to develop fuel cell vehicles. David D. Henry, a manager in Ford’s Alternative Fuel Vehicles organization, said “The bridge may extend over the next 20 years. Natural gas vehicles have an important role to play in helping assure clean air today and into the future.”

For more information on the California NGV Partnership, visit www.cngvp.org.

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