CNG Ford Transit Connect and NEW MV-1 Launch at Metro Taxi - See them on the 27th at the Expo!

WOW what a day it was on Monday the 26th at Metro Taxi in West Haven! The Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project opened the 4th of 10 project sites with a celebration that had been in the making for a long time. The new CNG Station built by Clean Energy opened with a ready fleet of Ford Transit Connect taxi's and the new purpose built American made MV-1 from Vehicle Production Group.
On Tuesday, September 27th from 8 am to 3:30 pm, the Metro Taxi CNG vehicles along with about 3 dozen other Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles will be available for viewing (and some for an afternoon Ride-N-Drive) at the 7th Annual CT Clean Cities Expo (Mountain Ridge Events Center in Wallingford). Please visit www.CT-CleanCitiesExpo.com for more information. First Responder Training sessions will also be available at 7:30 and 3:00!
Don't miss this once a year opportunity to see and learn about what's happening with the exploding growth of Alternative Fuels in Connecticut.
We hope to see you at the Expo...

Two Major Alternative Fuel Events in CT This Week!

This week, two major events are taking place in Connecticut as part of the continuing movement among fleets and individuals to replace conventional transportation fuels with cleaner burning (and in most cases less expensive) Alternative Fuels.
On Monday, September 26th, Metro Taxi at 65 Industry Drive in West Haven will host a Ribbon Cutting of the first CNG station with public access in the city and the launch of 110 new CNG taxis, including the new MV-1, designed from the ground up to provide exceptional transportation options to persons with disabilities. The event also features the first CNG station in the state built by Clean Energy, deployment of CNG fueled Ford Transit Connect and Honda Civic GX's. This is the fourth ribbon cutting in the state under the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project. The event, scheduled for 10:00 am, will feature a wide range of VIP's, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, CT House Majority Leader J. Brendan Sharkey, West Haven Mayor John Picard, Michelle Duprey from the City of New Haven and project partners.
On Tuesday, September 27th, the 7th Annual Connecticut Clean Cities Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles Expo will be held in Wallingford, CT at the Mountain Ridge Events Center (I-91 Exit 15 look for the signs). The event will offer a wide range of information and updates about Alternative Fuels, almost 30 Exhibitors, approximately three dozen Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles on display with nearly a dozen available for a Ride-N-Drive event in the afternoon.
The Expo hours are 9am - 3:30 pm (on site registration begins at 7:00 am) Admission is free to attend (lunch is a nominal charge if there are any left).
This year, at 7:30 am and 3:00 pm, the event will host a one-hour training session for First Responders. This hour will be packed with a tremendous amount of great information from the OEM's and training representatives working on the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project.
These are two can't miss events in Connecticut! We hope to see you there.

Fairfield CNG Station Expansion Ribbon Cutting on June 10 a Huge Success!

The Town of Fairfield recently commissioned an upgrade and expansion of its existing CNG station at the Public Works Department. Friday 10 June 2011, the 3rd station Ribbon Cutting Event in the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project took place with assistance from many involved in the project.

Congressman Jim Himes and Fairfield First Selectman Michael Tetreau spoke at the event. This was the second project opening in Congressman Himes' district and First Selectment Tetreau's first public appearance in his new position as First Selectman.

The Town of Fairfield has operated CNG vehicles for several years, but as Ed Boman, Deputy Public Works Director at the Town and Coordinator of the SW CT Clean Cities Coalition pointed out, "If we are to add more CNG vehicles to our fleet, we must have more capacity", the funding assistance from the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project made this possible.

The project is part of a statewide effort including all four designated USDOE Clean Cities Coalitions with funding through the USDOE from the ARRA. The project is managed by Innovation Drive, Inc.

Project Partner Enviro Express part of President's National Clean Fleets Partnership Announcement Ceremony on April 1, 2011 in Maryland

As many of you know, this past Friday, 1 April 2011, President Obama announced a Public-Private Partnership to Engage Large Commercial Fleets to Significantly Reduce Petroleum Use

Enviro Express of Bridgeport, CT, a partner in the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project, was asked to provide on of their recently deployed Kenworth T800 LNG Class 8 Tractors (which uses a Westport engine) for the showcase event! While there were many Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFV's) on-site for the event which was held at UPS in Landover, MD, there was only one from the first LNG Fleet of heavy-duty Class 8 vehicles - Enviro Express.

The fleet has been in operation barely over 3 months and the 18 Kenworth's have already logged over 350,000 miles and displaced over 64,000 gallons of diesel fuel. What an honor to have this fleet partner of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project participate in the announcement of the newest program of the USDOE's Clean Cities Program.

As reported in the Fact Sheet released by the White House, "This public-private partnership will help large companies reduce diesel and gasoline use in their fleets by incorporating electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-saving measures into their daily operations. Through the Partnership, the Department of Energy (DOE) will assist companies in their efforts to reduce fuel use and achieve greater efficiency and cost-savings by offering specialized resources, technical expertise, and support. The partnership is part of the DOE Vehicle Technology Program’s “Clean Cities” initiative."

For more information about the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project, please visit www.ct-futurefuels.com.

Enviro Express Kenworth T800 LNG Truck Making an Apperance in Washington DC Metro Area with President Obama on Friday 1 April 2011

The following MEDIA ALERT was supplied by Kenworth and is being posted here to share the great news about one of the project participants in the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Jeff Parietti, jparietti@paccar.com

Kenworth T800 LNG Truck Featured at UPS Event With President Barack Obama

LANDOVER, Md., March 31, 2011 — A Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicle operated by Enviro Express will be viewed by President Barack Obama at an event hosted by UPS at its shipping facility Friday in Landover, Md.

Next week, legislation will be introduced that will provide grants paying 80 percent of the incremental cost of Class 7 and Class 8 natural gas-powered trucks up to $64,000. President Obama at a major energy policy speech at Georgetown University on Wednesday encouraged Congress to introduce and pass the legislation to provide incentives for the purchase and production of natural gas vehicles.

UPS ordered 48 Kenworth T800 LNG trucks earlier this year for its Ontario, Calif. to Las Vegas, Nev., operation. The LNG truck that Bridgeport, Conn.-based Enviro Express and the Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition has provided for the event is one of 18 Kenworth T800 LNG trucks in operation. The trucks were funded, in part, by a U.S. Department of Energy grant administered by the coalition as part of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project.

The Kenworth T800 LNG, as well as aerodynamic models and diesel-electric hybrid trucks, are powering Kenworth’s industry leadership in providing environmentally friendly products. Kenworth offers the Kenworth T440 and Kenworth W900S liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) models, in addition to the Kenworth T800 LNG model. Kenworth also offers the aerodynamic Kenworth T660 and Kenworth T700; and the Kenworth T270 and T370 diesel-electric hybrids. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to receive the EPA’s Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products.

Kenworth was also the first truck manufacturer to offer an LNG fuel system as a Class 8 factory-installed option. The 15-liter, 450-hp Westport GX engine uses 5 percent diesel and 95 percent liquefied natural gas to power the T800s.

Tri-State L/CNG Fueling Station Celebrates First 90 days and first 350,000 Miles of Cleaner Air

Enviro Express Fueling Station Delivers Huge Environmental Progress In Small Amount of Time

Bridgeport, CT—(April 1, 2011) Citizens and businesses in the Connecticut, New York and New Jersey tri-state area marked the first 90 days and first 350,000 fleet miles of operation last week at the Enviro Express combined Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station erected as part of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project (CTCCFF).

Located adjacent to I-95 in Connecticut’s largest city, the L/CNG station opened on December 10, 2010 and is a showcase project for others to follow. In just three months of operation, the Enviro Express fleet of 18 LNG Class 8 tractors displaced over 64,000 gallons of diesel fuel and more than 35,000 pounds of harmful emissions including CO, VOC, NOx, PM2.5 and Green House Gases. In addition to fleet service, the station also provides an additional variety of commercial, government and private fueling opportunities to customers throughout the area.

“We could not be happier with the results to date,” said Bill Malone, President of Enviro Express Natural Gas LLC. “This station has invigorated the alternative fuels debate, proven a concept on a large scale for private enterprise and made the air cleaner. It is a phenomenal success and we are proud to make a difference, make a living and cleaning the air all at the same time” he added.

The $6.2 million Enviro Express station project is the only Class 8 LNG fleet and transportation fueling station east of the Mississippi River and stores up to 14,760 gallons of LNG. It is one of several major components of alternative fuel infrastructure deployed or soon to be deployed in Connecticut thanks to a $13.2 million, 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Department of Energy grant. Matched with public-private infrastructure investment a total of $29.4 million the grant includes building/retrofitting alternative fuel stations (LNG, CNG, Electric, Biodiesel and Hydrogen), alternative fuel vehicle deployments, and statewide training and education programs.

“This is a truly historical project which encompasses the core mission of the USDOE Clean Cities Program - voluntary public-private partnerships focused on reducing our nation’s use of petroleum fuels,” said Carla R. York, Chief Executive Officer of Innovation Drive, Inc., the project manager of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project. “The tremendous accomplishments demonstrated to date at Enviro Express clearly portrays the benefits for industry in partnering with Clean Cities and choosing the economically viable path of clean burning, American fuels,” she added.

“The Enviro Express L/CNG station is already significantly contributing to the reduction of diesel emissions and the associated growth rate of childhood respiratory disease in Connecticut,” said Southwestern Connecticut Clean Cities Coalition Coordinator Ed Boman. “This opening represents the beginning of many opportunities for fleets and citizens to convert to natural gas vehicles,” he added.

For more information about the infrastructure initiatives and fleet deployments

of the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project,

please visit www.ct-futurefuels.com.

Specific CTCCFF Project Partners:

Greater New Haven Clean Cities	Norwich Clean Cities	Southwestern Connecticut Clean Cities
Capitol Clean Cities	Innovation Drive, Inc.	Sabre Engineering, Inc.
Big Fish Ad/PR	Signature Transportation Parts & Service	Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut DECD	Connecticut DEP	City of Bridgeport
City of Meriden	Town of Fairfield	Town of Glastonbury
CTTRANSIT	Enviro Express, Inc.	Metro Taxi
Nana Corporation	Yellow Cab	Executive Valet Parking
R & G Services	Norwich Public Utilities	Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative
Clean Energy	Air & Gas Technologies	Avalence
Southern Connecticut Gas Company	Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation	Baker Equipment
Bonner Electric	Manchester Honda	Matthews Bus

The Great New Haven, Norwich, Capitol and Southwestern Connecticut Clean Cities Coalitions are part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Clean Cities initiative. Clean Cities supports local decisions to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector through the use of alternative fuels, advanced technology vehicles, and fuel economy measures.

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Ford Transit Connect - Ford Motor Company

Just released from Ford Motor Company via WebWire at http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=134673

Rising Gas Prices Fuel Demand for Ford Compressed Natural Gas-Powered Commercial Vehicles

• Rising price of traditional gas coupled with significant government incentives and an increasing number of fuel stations is pumping up demand for compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) vehicles by commercial customers

• Ford meets demand by offering CNG as an option for Transit Connect, E-Series vans and F-Series Super Duty trucks

• An extremely clean-burning fuel, CNG usage can result in 30 to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

DEARBORN, Mich., March 29, 2011 – – Higher fuel prices, increasing government incentives and more fueling stations are spurring interest in compressed natural gas-powered commercial vehicles offered by Ford Motor Company.

Consider Metro Taxi of West Haven, Conn., which soon will take delivery of 20 Transit Connect Taxis powered by CNG. Owner Bill Scalzi said he bought the CNG-powered Transit Connect Taxis because of rising gas prices, government funding and the fact that there will soon be more CNG fueling stations in Connecticut, including one he is adding to his facilities.

Scalzi is not alone in wanting to own natural gas fueled vehicles as orders for CNG Transit Connect Taxis are coming from companies in places like Las Vegas, St. Louis, Boston, Chicago and Hartford, Conn.

“Fleet managers are adding all the reasons up and concluding that it makes sense to switch to CNG now more than ever,” said Rod Phillips, Ford Commercial Business Manager of the New England area.

CNG is made by compressing natural gas, which is mainly composed of methane. It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure of 2,900 to 3,600 psi. About 85 percent of the CNG used in the United States is produced domestically.

CNG is used in traditional gasoline internal combustion engines that have been modified to operate on CNG. In addition to Transit Connect Taxi, CNG is an option for Ford E-Series vans and F-Series Super Duty trucks.

The benefits are numerous.

First, CNG is a nontoxic, extremely clean-burning fuel and significantly reduces CO, CO2 and NOx compared with gasoline. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, use of CNG can result in 30 to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions.

“The ability to convert the Transit Connect to CNG is a big driving force for us,” said J.J. Bell, vice president of Las Vegas-based Whittlesea Blue Cab, which has ordered Transit Connect Taxis powered by CNG. “We are converting more and more of our fleet to this alternative fuel.”

Another benefit is cost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, between September 2005 and January, the price per gallon equivalent of CNG peaked at $2.34 in the summer of 2008. The national average was $1.93 in January 2011, the same as it was in October 2010. That’s important at a time when the price of gas is flirting with $4 per gallon.

“Every time fuel costs start climbing, the level of interest in alternative fuels increases,” said Carla York, CEO of Reston, Va.-based Innovation Drive Inc., a company that manages alternative fuel-related projects.

She said her organization receives 12 to 20 percent more calls with every 50-cent increase at the pump.

Government incentive support
An additional benefit is the amount of funding available. Government incentives such as rebates or tax credits are prompting fleet owners such as Scalzi to buy or convert their vehicles to run on CNG at reduced rates.

For example, the federally funded Clean Cities Petroleum Reductions Program is providing $300 million in funding to regional projects across the United States. One project is the Connecticut Clean Cities Future Fuels Project, which partially covers the costs of converting a vehicle to CNG. That project alone plans to provide funding for a total of 264 alternative-fuel vehicles.

“Without the help of the government program I wouldn’t have been able to purchase so many CNG-powered Transit Connect Taxis at one time,” Scalzi said. “I like the Transit Connect Taxi for its spacious passenger area and cargo capacity, so the government assistance was timely.”

The incentives also are helping fund construction of CNG fueling stations. Nearly 1,000 CNG fueling stations are now spread across the United States.

As a result, cities such as Tampa, Fla., and St. Louis soon will have their first public CNG stations.

Gerald Koss, marketing manager for Ford fleet operations, said Ford anticipated the infrastructure to support CNG vehicles would evolve and remained committed to its plans to bring CNG-powered commercial vehicles to market – even during economically challenged times.

“We took the chance that infrastructure would expand when we introduced our Transit Connect Taxi CNG capability in advance of any incentives for infrastructure or CNG conversions,” said Koss. “It turns out our timing couldn’t have been better.”

Ford has invested billions in researching and developing new fuel-efficient engines, transmissions and electrified vehicles, even during the depths of the economic downturn when competitors dialed back product spending. Today Ford has 12 vehicles with best-in-class fuel economy and four models with at least 40 mpg – claims no other full-line automaker can match.
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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 164,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com.