The Motivation of CNG Vehicles

2.2 The Motivation of CNG Vehicles Development

The motivation of CNG vehicles development is driven by the following factors:

          i.            Emission reduction requirements

        ii.            The potential/abundant of natural gas vehicles in Malaysia

      iii.            CNG vehicles: Advantages and disadvantages

2.2.1 Emission reduction requirements

The measurement of preventing atmospheric pollution to be implemented before 2010 include the New Emission Standard (2005) in Japan, SULEV (super ultra-low emission vehicle) in North America, and the Euro-5 strengthened exhaust gas recirculation in Europe is illustrated in Table 2.1

Table 2.1: Commitment Towards Emission Reduction

·         FCEV- fuel cell electric vehicle 

Year	2002	03	04	05	06	07	08	…	10	11---
Assertion	EURO 3		SULEV	New Emission Standard			CO2 (140 g/kW) Euro -5		CO2 (120g/km) Euro-5
know-how	HYBRID                                                                                    FCEV
	DI (diesel, gasoline)                              DI (CNG)

In Europe, there are significant regulation and planned as measure the CO₂ emissions reduction. The countries that are producing oil are declining in number over the next 20 years (Hitachi, 2007). Under such circumstances, the number of HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) user, which combines the internal combustion engine and electric motor drive is expected to expand. The FCEV (fuel-cell electric vehicle) which produces energy from hydrogen will become truly practical in near future. However, gasoline, light oil and heavy oil are expected to continue to be main fuels for internal combustion engine. 

 Codes and Standards of CNG Vehicles

The CNG vehicle development is restricted to several codes and standards which emphasis on safety, infrastructure, filling mechanism and maintenance. One prominent codes and standards for CNG vehicle is SAE J1616. It is recommended practice for compressed natural gas vehicle. 

There are two areas of the standards coverage;

i)                    the storage

ii)                  fuel system.

These issues have been addressed by the SAE TC-7 Natural Gas vehicle Task Force and Technology Committee on the Natural gas Vehicle Coalition. In Malaysia, the guidelines are introduced by Department of Standards Malaysia. The department has introduced MS 1096: 1997 Code of practice for the use of CNG fuel in internal combustion engines (Sirim Malaysia, 2010). The standards coverage is;

1. Design, construction
2. Installations
3. Operations
4. Maintenance and fuelling.