VANCOUVER, Aug. 2, 2012 - The largest
study of alternative fuel options for on-road transportation in
theUnited States has
concluded that natural gas is a promising fuel from both an
economic and technology perspective.
Released August 1, the
National Petroleum Council's Report "Advancing Technology for
America's Transportation Future" is the result of two years
of work examining the potential for a variety of fuels and
technologies for both light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles.
"There are competing priorities in the pursuit of new fuel and
vehicle technologies that are reliable, affordable and
environmentally advanced and natural gas is well-positioned within
the study," said Karen Hamberg,
Vice President of Sustainable Energy Futures at Westport.
"The potential for a long-term and
low-cost domestic supply of natural gas driven by economically
recoverable, unconventional resources provides the economic driver
for the increased use of natural gas for transportation."
Karen
Hamberg, Vice President of Sustainable Energy Futures,
Westport Innovations
Westport Innovations Inc. is the only Canadian-based company to
be involved in this study. Westport representatives - Hamberg;
Westport Senior Advisor and former President Michael Gallagher; and former
Westport VP Graham
Williams - were members of the natural gas sub-group,
chaired by Gallagher and consisting of more than 60 industry
representatives.
Over 300 participants representing industry, government,
academia, and non-governmental organizations contributed their
knowledge and time to the analysis, economic modeling and
development of findings.
In addition to natural gas, the study analyzed four other fuel
pathways, including hydrocarbon liquids, biofuels, electricity, and
hydrogen, as well as the fuel-vehicle systems that may develop over
the next several decades.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven
Chu requested the Council to examine opportunities to
accelerate alternative fuel prospects for passenger and freight
transport through 2050. The Secretary also asked the Council to
consider economically competitive ways to reduce the greenhouse gas
emissions from the U.S. transportation sector.
"The study identified few technological barriers to the
deployment of natural gas fueled vehicles," said Gallagher. "While
infrastructure hurdles were identified as a barrier to the adoption
of natural gas fueled vehicles, the study identifies solutions such
as the enhancement of current infrastructure, the creation of
natural gas corridors and vehicles that can run on more than one
fuel."
To read the Advancing Technology for America's Transportation
Future Report click here: http://www.npc.org/FTF-report-080112/FTF_Report_Summary-080112.pdf