Groups to Coordinate Promotion of Natural Gas Hybrid-Electric Vehicles
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, April 14 - The American Public
Gas Association (APGA), NGVAmerica, and Hybrid
Kinetic Motors Corporation (HK Motors)
announced today the formation of a strategic
collaboration to promote the mass production
and sales of natural gas-powered hybrid
passenger vehicles. HK Motors plans to begin
producing a family of light-duty natural gas
hybrid-electric passenger vehicles at its plant
in Alabama beginning in 2013. Natural gas
hybrids will use similar electric-drive
technology to gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles
available today, only natural gas will be the
power source rather than
gasoline.
“The American public is
becoming very familiar with hybrid technology,
and this is the next evolution,” says Richard
Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica.
“This new collaboration intends to
break through the ‘chicken or egg’ barriers
that haslimited natural gas from being
recognized by the public for what is it: the
most abundant, efficient, environmentally
friendly and affordable domestic fuel for
consumer vehicles,” said Bert Kalisch,
president of APGA.
Media
Release
Natural gas offers
significant greenhouse gas advantages. Compared
to gasoline vehicles, NGVs produce 29 percent
less greenhouse gases. When vehicle
power-trains are designed to specifically to
use natural gas and combined with hybrid
technologies, greenhouse gas levels can be
reduced by half while providing fuel efficiency
to meet or exceed the new federal
standards.
Key actions of the
collaboration include:
- Promoting consumer interest in natural gas hybrids
- Encouraging federal and state governments to extend the current range of incentives to encourage consumers, businesses, and governments to choose natural gas hybrid vehicles and the infrastructure necessary to sustain them. This would include advocating the passage of “The NAT GAS Act of 2009” (HR 1435; S. 1408)
- Promoting research and development efforts of natural gas vehicle/infrastructure technologies as well as related business models
- Working with natural gas distribution companies to install home fueling appliances and provide services for NGV purchasers
- Encouraging fleet owners of CNG fueling stations to expand their installations to include retail access to new NGV car owners
- Supporting access to
more domestic supplies of natural
gas.
American Public Gas Association (APGA)
The American Public Gas Association (APGA) is the not-for-profit nationwide association for publicly- and community-owned gas utilities and represents over 700 members in 36 states. They advocate on issues that impact members and the communities they serve including sharing best safety practices, legislative issues, effective business and operational strategies, and host conferences promoting the benefits of natural gas as a responsible and efficient energy source.
Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica)
Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) is a national organization dedicated to the development of a growing, sustainable and profitable market for vehicles powered by natural gas or biomethane. NGVAmerica represents more than 130 companies interested in the promotion and use of natural gas and hydrogen as transportation fuels, including: engine, vehicle and equipment manufacturers; fleet operators and service providers; natural gas companies; natural gas producers; and environmental groups and government organizations.
Hybrid Kinetic Motors
Hybrid Kinetic Motors is a new American auto company that has plans to mass produce natural gas-powered hybrid-electric vehicles. In the first generation, the cars will include a small gasoline supply for emergency use because retail CNG infrastructure for the public car buyer is not currently a clear priority. HK Motors believes that the bottlenecks limiting the strategic importance of this important alternative fuel can only be broken if both natural gas suppliers and vehicle manufacturers work together to come into the market simultaneously with both supply and customers in a profitable way. HK Motors’ goal in this alliance is to improve the availability of natural gas for consumers, business, and government vehicle owners to move more quickly from reliance on foreign oil to a cleaner and independent energy position for transportation.
Contact Info:
American Public Gas Association (APGA)
201 Massachusetts Avenue, NE Suite C-4
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-464-2742
Fax: 202-464-0246
NGVAmerica (NGVA)
400 N. Capitol St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202/824-7366
Fax: 202/824-7087
Hybrid Kinetic Motors Corporation
800 E Colorado Blvd. Suite 888
Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
www.hkmotors.com
Info@hkmotors.com