Great innovation in Italy for the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for heavy transport. In our Country, in fact, the marketing of two new LNG vehicles has started, the first two refuelling stations have been realised and the project of a new European trucking corridor should arrive to Sicily with a couple of refuelling stations. These are the main topics at the big international show "NGV2012 Bologna" that will take place from next June 19 to 21 at the Bologna Exhibition Centre. Organised by NGV Communications Group, sponsored by NGVA Europe and hosted this year by the Italian consortium NGV System Italia, the event foresees a large exhibition area with the latest technological innovations in the field of natural gas propulsion (CNG), LNG, biomethane, natural gas and liquid mixtures methane / hydrogen, as well as a series of specialized workshops.

In the "NGV2012" three days, the first details on the two LNG trucks just arrived on the Italian market will arouse the interest of the public: they are the Iveco Stralis LNG Natural Power (with 330 CV dedicated motor) and the Volvo FM MethaneDiesel (with 460 CV dual fuel motor). Much interest also for the Ham Italia project, which realised the first two Italian LNG refuelling stations in Northern Italy. During the fair, even the "European LNG Blue Corridors" will be analysed, included a new corridor for the Mediterranean Area: it will be characterized by a new route for heavy transport among Spain, France and Italy, with a series of LNG refuelling stations along the corridor. The NGVA Europe Association ha already presented this project at the European Union and a first answer should arrive after this summer.

"But, unfortunately, there isn't any unique approval at European level for this new LNG vehicles", Manuel Lage, NGVA Europe general manager underlines. "Currrently, every country has its own law on this topic, like Italy, but it's necessary to conform them soon to favour the development of this strategic sector. The LNG use allows, in fact, besides emission reduction, also an increase of the vehicle autonomy till to 600-700 km., sufficient to long distance transport on road: with a network of 20-30 LNG stations in the whole Europe, among which 4 or 6 in Italy, would be possible to ensure the LNG "trucks system" operation".

Rome, June 13 2012

In Italy the number of natural gas vehicles is still growing, pushed by oil prices increase and economic crisis. The last statistics refer about the global amount of over 779.000 vehicles on the Italian roads on last December, with an increase of over 3% in comparison with about 755.000 of the same month of 2010. Worldwide they achieved 15 million unit, but is has been foreseen that they will overcome 70 million in 2030. These statistics were processed by NGVA Europe, the European gas vehicle association preparing the big international show "NGV2012 Bologna" that will take place from next June 19 to 21 at the Bologna Exhibition Centre.

The natural gas vehicles are above all cars (775.000), followed by buses and pullman for public transport (2.300) and by trucks (1.200). Increasing also the refuelling stations present in the peninsula, that passed from 831 of December 2010 to 860 in last December. Italy is the first Country in Europe as regards the natural gas vehicles, followed in EU by Germany and Sweden (respectively on the 18th and 24^th position in the world list). Globally, Italy is on the 6th position, preceded by Pakistan (country with quite 3,1 million vehicles and 3.300 refuelling stations) and also by Iran, Argentina, Brazil and India.

"These ones aren't inflated or hypothetical statistics, but it represents an unstoppable growth of natural gas transport in Italy and all over the world", Manuel Lage, general manager of NGVA Europe, explains. "Nowadays the increasing markets are the USA, Australia, China and Russia. We foresee that in 2035 over one third of the heavy-duty vehicles in the world will not use oil or diesel but natural gas. Moreover, the last estimates on methane fields refer about global reserves for about 850.000 billions mc., equal to even 280 years of production at the actual extraction level".

The international show "NGV2012 Bologna" is the 3rd edition of the annual event sponsored by NGVA Europe, hosted this year by the Italian consortium NGV System Italia and organized by NGV Communications Group. The theme will be ""(Bio) Methane: the affordable alternative for all transport modes". The show includes a large exhibition area with the latest technological innovations in the field of natural gas propulsion, biomethane, natural gas and liquid mixtures methane / hydrogen, as well as a series of specialized workshops. The program includes five workshops on current topics, attended by high level speakers: 1) The perspectives of international OEMs on CNG; 2) LNG, dual fuel and dedicated technologies for heavy vehicles; 3) Biomethane and hydrogen blends, today solution for a large-scale sustainable mobility; 4) The virtuous circle in urban transport: biomethane from cities and farming landfills; 5) Natural gas distributors: CNG's potentiality, synergy and political will.

Roma, May 25 2012

Participants from 40 countries worldwide will take part in the "NGV2012 Bologna", the international event dedicated to natural gas vehicles. It will be held on June 19-21 at the Bologna Exhibition Centre, dealing with "(Bio) Methane: the affordable alternative for all transport modes". This is the third edition of the annual event sponsored by NGVA Europe, NGV European sector association, hosted this year by the Italian consortium NGV System Italia and organized by NGV Communications Group. The show includes a large exhibition area with the latest technological innovations in the field of natural gas propulsion, biomethane, natural gas and liquid mixtures methane / hydrogen, as well as a series of specialized workshops.

At the "Bologna NGV2012" those countries will be present where the vehicle natural gas is now an established tradition (such as Argentina, Brazil, Pakistan, Iran and even Italy), but also nations whose development of this sector is still in its infancy although promising (eg China, India and South Africa). "Despite the global economic crisis, or also because of this," says Manuel Lage, General Director of NGVA Europe, "NGV vehicles use continues to grow. In particular, Europe has seen a substantial increase in the heavy-duty transportation. The European marketplace, in fact, has a huge growth potentiality where market share of methane powered vehicles will grow from today 0.4% to 5% in 2020."

"Bologna NGV2012" program includes five specialized workshops on current topics, attended by high level speakers: 1) The perspectives of international OEMs on CNG; 2) LNG, dual fuel and dedicated technologies for heavy vehicles; 3) Biomethane and hydrogen blends, today solution for a large-scale sustainable mobility; 4) The virtuous circle in urban transport: biomethane from cities and farming landfills; 5) Natural gas distributors: CNG's potentiality, synergy and political will.

"In NGV world, Italy is known as the cradle of natural gas vehicles," said Manuel Lage, "and Bologna is the 'cradle of the cradle'. The first natural gas vehicle, in fact, was produced and drove in this city in the '30s. Moreover, Bologna and Emilia Romagna are leaders in Europe for the number of NGV vehicles and reffuelling stations, as well as the presence of the majority of Italian NGV industries . And 'this is the reasons - after the success of previous events in Madrid and Berlin – because Bologna was chosen for this third edition of our international trade fair ".

Rome, April 27 th 2012