These 2 Vehicle Inspections Are NOT the Same
Has your team ever confused the CNG Detailed Visual Inspection with the FMCSA Annual Inspection? On paper, it might sound like a reasonable mistake, but the reality is far from it. Below are three (3) reasons why FMCSA is no substitute for CNG, and why it is imperative that you have your technicians follow the […]
Minimize Costly Oil Carryover in Your Heavy-Duty NG Engines
These are the most common performance complaints for heavy-duty natural gas vehicles: Low power Difficulty starting Rough idling Engine hesitation when accelerating Occasional stalling The most common culprit? Oil contamination in the fuel. Oil contamination in heavy-duty NGVs can be hard to diagnose and even harder to remedy — especially if the vehicle technician is […]
Levels 2 and 3 Damaged Cylinders: Next Steps
By Emily Rios, Learning and Content Developer, NGVi After a Detailed Visual Inspection, a CNG Fuel System Inspector is responsible to determine the final disposition of the inspection, and if necessary, properly handle CNG cylinders with Level 2 and/or 3 damage. Many technicians ask if these cylinders can be isolated from the fuel system and […]
Four Essential Best Practices for CNG Transit Fleets
Transit agencies are one of the most active adopters of natural gas vehicles, due to the favorable economics and unparalleled environmental benefits of natural gas. There are nearly 20,000 natural gas buses on U.S. roads, and about 35% of new transit buses are powered by CNG. Since transit buses routinely operate in more densely populated […]
Handling Challenges with Today’s CNG Fuel System Inspections
By Gordon Larsen, Senior Technical Instructor, NGVi CNG fuel systems, especially for heavy-duty natural gas vehicles, have evolved greatly over the past decade. In today’s heavy-duty trucks and buses, CNG storage cylinders are combined into modules and installed on vehicles as a unit. The systems are engineered and installed according to NFPA 52, the installation […]
Four Point Safety Plan Can Improve Outcomes of CNG Refuse Truck Incidents
By Annalloyd Thomason, Vice President/General Manager, NGVi Refuse fleets are perhaps the largest market for CNG trucks. Their operating patterns of regular routes, return-to-base fueling and high fuel use make them ideal candidates to take advantage of the operating cost advantages of CNG. There’s another operating characteristic, however, that requires special attention for CNG refuse fleets, […]
The Value of Certification
By Kasia McBride, Marketing Manager, NGVi Professional certification refers to a voluntary process of skills and knowledge assessment, administered by a third party organization, to determine whether an individual can demonstrate a specific level of competency in a particular job role. It is based on industry-recognized standards, defined by specific conditions, and is meant to […]
CNG Fuel System Inspections: Technician Training is Key
By Kasia McBride, Marketing Manager, NGVi CNG fuel system inspections are complex processes, during which technicians must be able to properly identify and determine the extent or significance of any damage discovered to system components, including cylinders, and be clear on what specific actions must be taken. Whether any damage or other concerns about fuel […]
CNG Fuel System Inspection Requirements Revisited: NGV Industry Working Group Tackling Modifications
By Annalloyd Thomason, Vice President/General Manager, NGVi Last October, NGVi published an article titled “CNG Fuel System Inspection Challenges for Heavy-Duty Fleets” which turned out to be our most widely read article ever. In the article, we discussed the challenges for heavy-duty fleets with the current CNG fuel system inspection interval of every three years […]
CNG Fuel System Inspection Challenges for Heavy-Duty Fleets
By Annalloyd Thomason, Vice President/General Manager, NGVi Recently I was asked by the American Trucking Association’s Technical Advisory Group to meet with them to discuss the challenges they face with CNG fuel system inspections and to help them frame potential solutions. Perhaps the greatest challenge for many heavy-duty NGV users is that the fuel system […]
