JAPAN STUDY GROUP WILL VISIT LAX TO DISCUSS USE OF ALTERNATIVE-FUEL VEHICLES

(Los Angeles, California – August 9, 2011)  Los Angeles World Airports will host members of the Japan Gas Association, including two professors from Waseda University, during a study-tour of the Maintenance Services Division’s Fleet Maintenance facility at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The group is scheduled to arrive Wednesday, August 10.

The group will be visiting to discuss the future prospects and challenges, if any, for the use of alternative-fuel vehicles, including natural gas vehicles.  Meeting with them will be Maintenance Services Division Director Ralph Morones, Senior Automotive Supervisor Gilmore Pearce and Equipment Specialist Harald Combs.

The Japan Gas Association (JGA) is an organization of 209 city gas utilities and an association membership of about 270 companies involved in that country’s  gas industry.  JGA pursues a wide range of activities to address its common aims,  including promoting the introduction of natural gas, encouraging the use of natural gas vehicles and fostering international cooperation.

 “We believe that vehicle alternative-fuel use is an important element to meeting California’s future energy needs and we are well on our way to converting our entire inventory to its use,” Morones said.

Morones added that Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) presently has more than 685 alternative-fuel vehicles, approximately 60 percent of its fleet, powered by sources other than gasoline or diesel fuels.  “These alternative fuels include liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas,” he said.

Sixty-three percent of the fleet at LAX, or 660 vehicles, use alternative fuels.  The remaining vehicles are used at LAWA’s other two airports: LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys.

LAX’s fleet of 61 courtesy shuttle buses is powered by either CNG or LNG. These buses transport passengers between the nearby Metro Rail Green Line station and the passenger terminals.

CNG-powered vehicles, including pickup trucks, utility trucks, street sweepers, recycling collection vehicles and other conveyances, are also used daily in and around LAWA’s airports.  Several LNG-powered heavy-duty trucks are also in operation at LAWA facilities.