Hydrogen-Enhanced Natural Gas Vehicle Program
The project objective is to demonstrate the viability of HCNG fuel (30 to 50% hydrogen by volume and the remainder natural gas) to reduce emissions from light-duty on-road vehicles with no loss in performance or efficiency. The City of Las Vegas has an interest in alternative fuels and already has an existing hydrogen refueling station. Collier Technologies Inc (CT) supplied the latest design retrofit kits capable of converting nine compressed natural gas (CNG) fueled, light-duty vehicles powered by the Ford 5.4L Triton engine. CT installed the kits on the first two vehicles in Las Vegas, trained personnel at the City of Las Vegas (the City) to perform the additional seven retrofits, and developed materials for allowing other entities to perform these retrofits as well. These vehicles were used in normal service by the City while driver impressions, reliability, fuel efficiency and emissions were documented for a minimum of one year after conversion. This project has shown the efficacy of operating vehicles originally designed to operate on compressed natural gas with HCNG fuel incorporating large quantities of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). There were no safety issues experienced with these vehicles. The only maintenance issue in the project was some rough idling due to problems with the EGR valve and piping parts. Once the rough idling was corrected no further maintenance issues with these vehicles were experienced. Fuel economy data showed no significant changes after conversion even with the added power provided by the superchargers that were part of the conversions. Driver feedback for the conversions was very favorable. The additional power provided by the HCNG vehicles was greatly appreciated, especially in traffic. The drivability of the HCNG vehicles was considered to be superior by the drivers. Most of the converted vehicles showed zero oxides of nitrogen throughout the life of the project using the State of Nevada emissions station.
- Research Organization:
- City of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV; Collier Technologies, Reno NV
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program (EE-2H)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC36-04GO14263
- OSTI ID:
- 949990
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/GO/14263-1; TRN: US200910%%159
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
FEEDBACK
FUEL CONSUMPTION
HYDROGEN
MAINTENANCE
NATURAL GAS
NITROGEN
OXIDES
PERFORMANCE
PERSONNEL
RELIABILITY
SAFETY
SUPERCHARGERS
VALVES
VIABILITY
Hydrogen enhanced natural gas vehicle
HCNG fuel
internal combustion engine
ICE
fuel conversion kit
hydrogen fuel
EGR rates
Collier Technologies
City of Las Vegas
convert natural gas vehicles
lower exhaust emissions
hydrogen fueled vehicle