Aug 6, 2009

A patent-pending high-pressure direct-injection system delivers liquid propane by exploiting key components of directinjection gasoline fuel delivery apparatus.

In a bifuel configuration, an adapter applied to the pump handles the injection process after a distributor directs gasoline to the tank and liquid propane is sent to the high-pressure pump.

“From the high-pressure gasoline pump, the liquid propane is injected into the combustion chamber using the same gasoline hydraulic circuit as the original gasoline injectors at the pressure established by the vehicle manufacturer,” explained Ralph Perpetuini, CEO of Icom North America, the U.S.-based affiliate of Italy’s Icom S.p.A.

Icom’s high-pressure direct-injection process unfolds at approximately 180 bar (2611 psi) vs. the seven to eight bar (101 to 116 psi) of a normal liquid propane injection process.

“The Icom JTG hp direct-injection system is exclusively for direct-injection engines that inject fuel in the combustion chamber at high pressure,” said Perpetuini. “In contrast, the Icom JTG liquid injection system is for indirect-injection engines that inject fuel in the manifold at relatively low pressure and require an additional set of injectors for the propane injection on a bifuel system.”

The monofuel configuration uses one set of injectors.

Start of production for the JTG hp is slated for the fourth quarter of 2009. “We have to finish up homologations to make sure all of the components are LPG-compatible and that the homologations are correct,” Perpetuini noted. “And of course, we have to finish up testing for reliability as well as do final testing.”

In the meantime, Icom North America is focused on production. The company plans to hire additional engineers and production staff as it works to domesticate the liquid propane injection system. The objective is to almost reach 100% local production.

“We’re at about 50% right now with what is assembled by our licensee, Sleegers of London, Ontario, Canada and what is done in New Hudson, Michigan,” Perpetuini said, noting that multivalves, pressure regulators, and injection rails are currently produced in Italy and shipped to North America.

In addition to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) injection systems, Icom North America’s products include toroidal (donutshaped) and cylindrical LPG tanks as well as compressed natural gas (CNG) systems for commercial and passenger vehicles. Icom customers in the U.S. include Roush (Roush-Ford F-150 and F-250 propane-fueled pickup trucks) and Blue Bird (propane-fueled school buses through CleanFUEL USA).

To demonstrate that any gasoline or diesel-powered vehicle can be modified to use propane, Icom North America and CleanFUEL USA of Texas converted a Saturn Vue gasoline-electric hybrid to a propane-electric hybrid. The Vue propane-electric hybrid was shown at the 2008 SEMA Show and the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

“The U.S. currently has more than 170,000 propane-fueled vehicles. We expect that number to rise as consumers of commercial and passenger vehicles fully grasp the cost and environmental benefits associated with LPG,” said Perpetuini, adding, “Icom’s existing JTG system and its forthcoming JTG hp system are designed to function in harmony with OEM gasoline engines as a fully integrated system.”

Author: Kami Buchholz, SAE International

Aug 3, 2009

NEW HUDSON, Mich., Jul 28, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Icom North America, a leading supplier of alternative fuel systems and tanks for commercial and passenger vehicles, believes there will be an increase in “green collar” jobs in Michigan as vehicle manufacturers embrace liquefied propane, natural gas and other alternative fuels.

Ralph Perpetuini, CEO of Icom North America, said his company is seeing increased interest from OEMs in Icom’s JTG (injection traction gas) propane-vehicle systems and natural gas systems. The largest users in the U.S. currently are school and shuttle buses, as well as light-and medium-duty trucks.

“OEM interest in propane is growing,” he said. To demonstrate the versatility of this fuel, Icom North America and CleanFUEL USA of Georgetown, Tex., recently converted a Saturn Vue hybrid from gasoline-electric to propane-electric.

Customized by Rick Bottom Designs, of Mendota, Ill., the Saturn Vue was displayed at the 2008 SEMA Show and the 2009 Chicago Auto Show.

“Any gasoline-or diesel-powered vehicle can be modified to use propane or natural gas,” Perpetuini said. “With the proper use of alternative fuels, we can enjoy increased energy security, increased employment in an emerging sector, and decreased emissions.” He said 4,000 propane filling stations currently serve some 170,000 propane vehicles and 1,100 natural gas stations serve 150,000 natural gas vehicles.

These figures are expected to rise as commercial-and passenger-vehicle markets appreciate the cost and environmental benefits of propane and natural gas.

“Propane and natural gas vehicles provide a ‘clean’ balance of fuel economy, performance and dramatically reduced emissions,” Perpetuini explained. “Icom’s JTG liquid-propane injection application is a fully-integrated, dedicated or bi-fuel engine system designed in harmony with OEM gasoline engines.

“Drive-ability, performance and torque are equal to or better than conventional fuels, and propane exhaust creates 60-70 percent less smog-producing hydrocarbons than gasoline,” he continued.

As gasoline increases in price, propane and natural gas continue to have a cost advantage, with more than 90 percent of the nation’s propane and natural gas coming from U.S. and Canadian sources, further reducing dependence on foreign oil.

Icom’s vehicle conversion systems may utilize the company’s proprietary Toroidal Tank, developed and manufactured by parent company Icom S.p.A. of Cisterna di Latina, Italy. The company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009. More than 100,000 vehicles worldwide have utilized the Icom JTG Propane System since 2004. Icom has manufactured more than 2.5 million toroidal tanks.

Icom North America is a supplier to CleanFUEL USA, Blue Bird Bus Corporation, Roush and various other vehicle manufacturers.

A new Icom JTG High Pressure Direct Injection Propane System is in the final development stages and will be available for use in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2009.

About Icom North America, LLC Icom North America, LLC, founded in 2004, is the U.S.-based affiliate of Icom S.p.A. of Italy, a pioneer in the development and manufacture of liquid propane gas conversion systems and tanks for commercial and passenger vehicles. The company assembles the Icom Liquid Injection Propane vehicle conversion system and additional Icom products, including the proprietary Icom Toroidal LPG Tank, for commercial and passenger OEM and aftermarket vehicles in North America and selected other markets. North American headquarters are in New Hudson, Michigan.

June 4, 2009

LANSING, Mich. – The chairman of Michigan-based Icom North America predicts that vehicles equipped with liquid injection propane systems will become more and more common on state roads.

Ralph Perpetuini, chairman of Icom North America stated at Michigan Propane Awareness Day that “the time is right to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles through increased tax incentives at the state level.” Sponsored by the Michigan Propane Gas Association, the program was held at the Michigan Capitol grounds on Tuesday, May 19.

Perpetuini said Icom North America expects the demand for propane-powered vehicles to increase dramatically as consumers and fleet owners learn more about propane’s environmental and cost-savings benefits.

Current U.S. regulations allow fleet owners and consumers that meet specific criteria a 50 to 80 percent tax credit for each propane vehicle. In addition, there is a 50 cent per gallon federal fuel tax credit. Some fleets, including public school districts, are receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in federal fuel tax credits. By purchasing LPI Propane Blue Bird school buses, school districts can benefit from the federal OEM school bus rebate program.

“Propane gas vehicles provide three major benefits,” Perpetuini said. “Propane systems offer a ‘clean’ balance of fuel economy, performance and reduced emissions. Icom’s JTG (Injection Traction Gas) liquid-propane injection application is a fully-integrated, dedicated engine system designed in harmony with original equipment gasoline engines.”

Virtually any vehicle can be converted to use propane, the Icom executive noted, with vehicles providing driveability, performance and torque equal to or better than conventional fuels as well as reduced emissions. Because the sources for propane are almost entirely located in North America, its use further reduces dependence on foreign petroleum. The fuel has a cost advantage over gasoline.

Based in New Hudson, Mich., Icom recently converted a Saturn Vue crossover hybrid passenger vehicle to propane and gasoline use to demonstrate the practical benefits of this alternative fuel. The vehicle was displayed at last year’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas and at the Chicago Auto Show in February.

Icom’s vehicle conversion systems can utilize Icom’s proprietary Toroidal Tank, developed and manufactured by parent company Icom S.p.A. of Cisterna di Latina, Italy. Over 100,000 vehicles worldwide have utilized the Icom JTG Propane System since 2004 and Icom has manufactured more than three million toroidal tanks which are sold worldwide. Icom of Italy is celebrating its 25-year anniversary in 2009.

The company’s systems are distributed by CleanFUEL USA of Georgetown, Texas, and are utilized by Blue Bird for its School Bus Platform and GM Medium Duty Trucks as well as for other vehicle manufacturers.

June 4, 2009

Lined up on the street in front of the beautiful Michigan State Capitol on this sunny spring day were: a yellow Schwann’s delivery truck, a new Ford F-150, a Freightliner chassis cab equipped with 3,200-gallon LP tank, a cute 14-seat handicapper bus and a full-size, yellow Bluebird school bus. What they had in common is that they all run on liquid propane (LP) gas – the same gas that heats many of our rural homes – including mine.

The Michigan Propane Gas Association hosts this legislative event on the Capitol lawn every year to get the attention of legislators, who seem always up for a free lunch of burgers, dogs and brats cooked over LP gas grills on the lawn. It seems they may be making progress as the importance of promoting alternative fuels becomes more apparent.

Legislators, and many others, may be a bit gun-shy after going off half cocked on the promotion and subsidization of corn-based ethanol, an ill-conceived plan to supplement motor fuel stocks with ethanol made from food grain by a process that requires more energy input than the fuel provides at the other end.

Propane, as some of you may know, is a plentiful byproduct of the production of gasoline and diesel fuel. About 90% of the propane we use is produced in North America. It is a clean-burning fuel with no particulates and it consistently costs about a buck/gallon less than gasoline regardless of gas price level. And, I’m assured, we have about 150 years worth of it to use.

Right now, and for the foreseeable future, the Federal government is offering a 50 cent/gallon rebate on the fuel, and a substantial rebate on the purchase of the vehicle itself in some cases, making the costs of LP power even more attractive. Some fleet operators – especially larger school districts –are saving huge amounts of money with LP.

The downside is that gasoline and diesel engines must be converted to take advantage of LP. The fuel storage and delivery systems as well as engine management software must be replaced. But that’s not as big a deal as you may expect. It can be done on just about any vehicle and the payback can be huge for fleets. The payback in any application will depend of many factors, of course, like the size and use of the vehicle.

Icom North America of New Hudson, Michigan makes conversion systems for everything from pickup trucks to massive haulers.

Icom chairman, Ralph Perpetuini, says, “the time is right to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles through increased tax incentives at the state level” – hence their presence at this State Capitol event. It is Icom’s system, by the way, that is used to covert the Bluebird school bus to LP.

Fleet users will always have their own storage and fueling facilities allowing bulk purchases. Individual users can fuel their vehicles at the same places that supply RV tanks and home LP services. That is to say, the infrastructure is already in place, giving LP a leg up on many of the other alternative fuel systems we’ve been talking about for the future.

LP may also be the safest of the alternative fuels. If spilled it just seeps into the ground and dissipates without ill effect. It is non-polluting, less volatile than other fuels and the storage tanks, though bulky, will withstand unimaginable abuse without rupturing. One of the LP promoters at the event quipped, “When was the last time you heard of an LP explosion? It just doesn’t happen. The defense rests.”

So, what’s the downside? For one thing, those big, heavy, bulky tanks that hold enough for about half the cruising range we’re used to. That’s not as big a deal for cargo truck and bus applications, of course. We’re also not accustomed to thinking of LP as transportation fuel.

Perhaps it is time we rethink that.

Auto Channel Article

October 13, 2008

2008 Saturn VUE Greenline Hybrid utilizes Icom of Italy’s JTG Technology

ICOM North America, LLC is pleased to announce the opening of its new North American headquarters and assembly plant in New Hudson, Michigan.

ICOM North America assembles the ICOM JTG LPG system for the North American market to incorporate local componentry and best utilize the large skilled local labor force. Propane/LPG is an alternative fuel coming from over 90% US and Canadian sources.

The ICOM JTG LPG system and components are used by CleanFUEL USA for their LPI GM and BlueBird school bus systems, using CleanFUEL USA’s proprietary calibrations, and by Roush with their unique strategies and developments for the F-150 propane pickup.

Compared with traditional gasoline vehicles, those utilizing the ICOM JTG LPG system have equal drivability & performance and have equal or greater power and torque. There are currently over 1,500 new vehicles in the USA using the ICOM JTG system and over 80,000 in Europe and Australia.

ICOM North America is an Oakland County Emerging Sector company. The State of Michigan’s MEDC and Oakland County’s development office worked closely with ICOM North America to help make ICOM’s transition to Michigan smooth. Michigan is positioning itself to be the dynamic Green Belt industry state. The Green Belt is Michigan’s initiative to become the alternative fuel’s hotspot of North America.

Both the ICOM JTG system and ICOM Toroidal LPG Tank have worldwide patents.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/13/roush-introduces-a-propane-powered-f-150/