Motor

Natural gas for use in the fleet transportation sector continues to make inroads, as evidenced by the recent news out of Ford Motor Co. that sales of Ford trucks with engines prepped for compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) catapulted more than 350% from 2009 to 2012.

American Honda Motor Co., which bills itself as the only automaker selling natural gas-powered passenger cars in the United States, wants to double its sales of its compressed natural gas (CNG) Civicmodel, which is built in Indiana. To boost sales it is going to establish CNG fueling stations in some of its dealerships, particularly in California. The automaker said it is negotiating with California regulators about developing more fueling stations in dealerships in a state that represents the nation’s biggest CNG vehicle market. The company said it is usually not Honda’s role to create infrastructure, but in this case a “chicken and egg” situation exists, “and we’re going to have to nurse the egg along.”

Vancouver, BC-based Westport Innovations Inc. has struck a deal with Ford Motor Co. to provide natural gas-powered engine technologies for some of the U.S. automaker’s pickup truck models, starting in the first half of 2012.

With a general perception that it is a cleaner industry relative to individual motor vehicles, the mass transit industry is increasingly the competitive battleground for transportation fuel providers — traditional gasoline and diesel, along with the upcoming alternatives, such as natural gas, biofuels and hybrid electric technology. Within the sector, some options are cleaner than others, according to a research report by Boulder, CO-based Pike Research LLC.

Although subject to working through some still sticky post-earthquake parts distribution challenges, American Honda Motor Co. on Monday indicated that it still plans a nationwide sales push in the United States late this year for the latest version of its compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Civic GX model.

Constellation Energy, parent of Baltimore Gas and Electric Co., Monday said it had reached an agreement with Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing, North America Inc. to provide an array of integrated natural gas services and energy market analyses to Toyota facilities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Amid rising gasoline prices and a boost from President Obama, natural gas use in vehicles is drawing increased support, according to Ford Motor Co., which reported Wednesday that demand has risen for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.

Honda dealers in Oklahoma are now able to sell the compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Honda Civic GX to customers on a retail basis, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said.

Honda dealers in Oklahoma are now able to sell the compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered Honda Civic GX to customers on a retail basis, American Honda Motor Co. Inc. said.