NREL and TeleflexGFI Initiate NGNGV Phase II Vehicle Integration Project
June 15, 2004
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has announced an agreement with TeleflexGFI to undertake a Phase II Next Generation Natural Gas Vehicle (NGNGV) integration project. TeleflexGFI is a full system service supplier (FSSS) of alternative fuel systems and components for natural gas-, propane-, and hydrogen-powered vehicles and industrial equipment. NREL and TeleflexGFI negotiated and executed the agreement through NREL's competitive solicitation process.
The project has three primary goals, which include developing an ultra-low-emission General Motors (GM) 8.1L natural gas engine; integrating the engine into a low-floor shuttle bus; and demonstrating the bus in real-world operation. The long-term goal is the development of a commercially viable medium-duty natural gas vehicle that meets U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2010 emission standards.
The spark-ignited natural gas engine developed through the project will (a) employ a stoichiometric air/fuel ratio and three-way catalyst, and (2) be rated at 270 hp and 400 ft-lb of torque. Although the official emission targets for the engine are 0.5 g/bhp-h oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 0.01 g/bhp-h particulate matter (PM), project representatives anticipate that the engine will produce lower NOx emissions of 0.2 g/bhp-h or less.
Under the terms of the cost-shared project, the U.S. Department of Energy's FreedomCAR and Vehicle Technologies Program and NREL are funding approximately $1.3 million of the $1.5 million project cost, with the remaining funding provided by TeleflexGFI. The project is expected to conclude in Fall 2005.