Green Fleet Roundup: HyperSolar, BMW, Ford, Boeing

HyperSolar, the developer of a technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and any source of water, says it is evaluating commercial methods for onsite hydrogen production at distribution points or fueling stations to meet the demand created by the launch of fuel cell cars next year from Hyundai, Honda and Toyota and other automakers.

BMW of North America has selected ABM its preferred electric vehicle charging station installation and service partner for its BMW i Centers across the US and for BMW i Retailers across Canada. Each of the charging stations will be part of the ChargePoint network. BMW will release its first full production, all-electric vehicle, the BMW i3, in early 2014, with the BMW i8 to follow later in the year.

Ford has begun production of the 2014 F-150 (pictured) with the ability to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), which Ford says makes it the only manufacturer with an available CNG/LPG-capable half-ton pickup. When equipped with a bi-fuel CNG/LPG engine package, the 3.7-liter V6 F-150 is capable of achieving more than 750 miles on combined tanks of gasoline and CNG, depending on the tank sizes selected.

Crowley has signed a contract with VT Halter Marine to build two of the world’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered, combination container – Roll-On/Roll-Off (ConRo) ships, designed to travel at speeds up to 22 knots and carry containers ranging in size from 20-foot standard to 53-foot-long, 102-inch-wide, high-capacity units. LNG nets a 100 percent reduction in sulphur oxide and particulate matter, a 92-percent reduction in nitrogen oxide, and also reduces CO2.

Boeing has launched the super-efficient  777X, which it says costs 15 percent less to operate and consumes 20 percent less fuel than today’s 777 planes, with agreements for 259 airplanes from four customers across Europe and the Middle East. Representing the largest product launch in commercial jetliner history by dollar value, 777X orders and commitments include Lufthansa with 34 airplanes, Etihad Airways with 25, Qatar Airways with 50 and Emirates with 150. The combined value of the agreements is more than $95 billion at list prices.