The Future of the Natural Gas Vehicles Market

Natural Gas Vehicle technology is widely available and has been available for purchase in most regions of the world for decades. Governments, fleet managers, and private consumers are recognizing the environmental benefits of lower emissions from NGVs. However, lack of refueling infrastructure has caused NGV demand to stagnate in many countries. In regions where NGVs have strong market performance, adoption is largely due to a combination of inexpensive natural gas, a large number of existing refueling stations, and government subsidies of vehicles, fuel, and infrastructure.

Our assessment of the NGV market points to strong growth in regions where the infrastructure is already supported, which include parts of Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Pike Research anticipates growing acceptance of NGVs as governments approve climate change treaties and energy security legislation. These factors will contribute to NGV sales growth of 5.5% annually by 2015, though some regions will see growth stunted by greater political support for other transportation alternatives such as electric vehicles, clean diesels, and biofuels.

This Pike Research report provides an overview of the opportunities and challenges to NGV light-duty cars, trucks, and medium/heavy duty trucks. The report includes a comprehensive assessment of compressed and liquefied natural gas (CNG/LNG) vehicle technologies, including tanks and engine modifications. It also examines key drivers of market growth by fleet customers as well as private consumers. Detailed forecasts are provided for the global vehicle market, global NGV fleet and private consumer sales, NGV refueling stations, and NGV sales by vehicle segments. Key market players are also profiled.

Topics covered in the report include…
1. Executive Summary

2. Market Issues
2.1 History
2.2 Light Vehicles
2.3 Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks/Buses
2.4 Refilling Infrastructure Availability
2.5 Regional Markets
2.5.1 United States/Canada Consumer Market
2.5.2 North American Fleet Market
2.5.3 Latin American Market
2.5.4 European Market
2.5.5 Africa/Middle East Market
2.5.6 Asia Pacific Market
2.6 Current Market Opportunities and Barriers
2.6.1 Private Ownership
2.6.2 Conversion versus Original Equipment NGVs
2.6.3 Cost/Benefit Analysis
2.6.3.1 Fuel Costs
2.6.3.2 Performance versus Diesel/Gasoline Engines
2.7 Competing Technologies
2.7.1 Other Alternative Fuels
2.7.2 Hydrogen
2.7.3 Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technologies
2.7.4 Fuel Cell Advancements
2.8 CNG/LNG Handling Training Issues

3. Technology Issues
3.1 Chemical Characteristics of Natural Gas
3.1.1 Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
3.1.2 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
3.1.3 Biogas
3.2 NGV Engines
3.2.1 Dedicated Mono-Fuel Engines
3.2.2 Bi-Fuel Engines
3.2.3 Dual-Fuel Engines
3.3 Refueling Technology
3.3.1 CNG Refueling
3.3.2 LNG Refueling
3.4 Mining Natural Gas
3.4.1 Transportation of Fuel
3.5 Safety Issues
3.5.1 On-Vehicle Storage Tanks

4. Demand Drivers
4.1 Market-Based Demand
4.1.1 Greening of Corporate Fleets
4.1.2 Relationship between Alternative Fuel Demand and Gas/Diesel Prices
4.1.3 Global Warming and Peak Oil Awareness
4.1.4 T. Boone Pickens’ Impact on the NGV Market
4.2 Government Emissions Regulations
4.2.1 United States
4.2.1.1 CAFE Standards
4.2.1.2 EPA Regulations
4.2.2 Canada
4.2.3 Latin America
4.2.4 Europe
4.2.5 China
4.2.6 India
4.2.7 Japan
4.3 Government Incentives
4.3.1 United States
4.3.2 Canada
4.3.3 Europe
4.3.4 Japan
4.3.5 China
4.3.6 Other Regulatory Incentives

5. Key Industry Players
5.1 Original Equipment Manufacturers
5.1.1 Fiat
5.1.2 Ford Motor Co.
5.1.3 General Motors
5.1.4 Honda
5.1.5 Hyundai Motor Co.
5.1.6 Renault
5.1.7 Toyota Motor Corp.
5.1.8 Volkswagen
5.2 Heavy-Duty Trucks/Buses
5.2.1 Capacity of Texas, Inc.
5.2.2 Cummins Westport Inc. (Joint Venture)
5.2.3 Emissions Solutions Inc.
5.2.4 Foton
5.2.5 Freightliner
5.2.6 Iveco
5.2.7 Navistar/International Truck and Engine Corp.
5.2.8 Volvo
5.2.9 Westport
5.3 Key Suppliers/NGV Converters
5.3.1 Advanced Fuels Technologies, Pty Ltd.
5.3.2 Altech-Eco Corp.
5.3.3 BAF Technologies
5.3.4 Baytech Corp.
5.3.5 The Bosch Group
5.3.6 Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
5.3.7 FAB Industries
5.3.8 Fuel Systems Solutions, Inc.
5.3.9 Juniper Engines, Inc.
5.3.10 Kraus Global
5.3.11 Magneti Marelli
5.3.12 OMBL SpA
5.3.13 Prins Autogassystemen BV

6. Market Forecasts
6.1 Global Vehicle Sales Forecast: 2006-2015
6.1.1 North America
6.1.2 Latin America
6.1.3 Europe
6.1.4 Asia Pacific
6.1.5 Africa/Middle East
6.2 Global Natural Gas Vehicles Forecast: 2008-2015
6.2.1 North America
6.2.2 Latin America
6.2.3 Europe
6.2.4 Asia Pacific
6.2.5 Africa/Middle East
6.3 NGV Refueling Station Forecast
6.4 Fleet versus Private Owner NGV Sales Forecast, North America
6.5 NGV Sales by Vehicle Segment, North America
6.6 Summary and Conclusions

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