Natural Gas-to-Diesel Plant Being Established in Louisiana – Will it Work?

In Qatar, executives at Sasol, a chemical and synthetic fuels company based in South Africa, and a partner, Qatar’s state-owned oil company, are betting that natural gas, which is abundant in Qatar, will become the dominant global fuel source over the next 50 years, and that oil will become scarcer and more expensive as global demand for transport fuels grows.

Sasol believes so strongly in the promise of this technology that it recently announced plans to spend up to $14 billion to build the first gas-to-liquids plant in the US, in Louisiana, supported by more than $2 billion in state incentives. A shale drilling boom in that region in the last five years has produced a glut of cheap gas, and the executives say Sasol can tap that supply to make diesel and other refined products at competitive prices. It is a very risky proposition....

Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics – the Reality of Reporting MPG

By Jon LeSage In this day and age of aggressive, ambitious targets for fuel economy increases and greenhouse gas/CO2 reductions in the US, European Union, and elsewhere, it’s not shocking to see skepticism and investigative reporting revved up by Consumer Reports and other sources. Hyundai and Kia are going through the ringer, and now Ford […]

LeasePlan’s New Employee Safe Driving Policy, PHH Arval Names VP Sales and New Business Development, WEX Extending Existing Fuel-Price Program, ARI Employees Recycle Nearly 4 Tons Worth, NexTraq’s New Distracted Driving Solution

LeasePlan Announces Clear Policy on Employee Safe Driving Practices LeasePlan is taking on distracted driving for employees driving company cars. Employees are not allowed to use phones or smart devices while operating LeasePlan vehicles – period. In addition, LeasePlan is encouraging all employees to sign a safe driving pledge and invite family members to commit […]

Roush and Blue Bird Bringing 434 Propane-Powered School Buses to Nebraska

More than 400 propane autogas-fueled school buses will be provided to the Omaha and Millard Public Schools in Nebraska this week, according to Roush CleanTech and Blue Bird Bus. Student Transportation, Inc. called it the “largest transportation agreement in its history.” The districts are bringing in 530 vehicles – 434 will be dedicated-propane Roush-powered “Vision” […]

Indianapolis Mayor Ballard Turning City’s Fleet Green

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is taking the city’s fleet green – all of its light-duty non-police vehicles will be either battery or plug-in hybrid by 2025, and heavy fleet vehicles will be switching over to compressed natural gas. He’d also like to see automakers offer plug-in police cars, too. “The United States’ current transportation energy […]