Adsorbed Natural Gas Products, Inc. (ANGP) and United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), have unveiled a full-scale mockup of the world’s first conformable natural gas tank for ANG vehicles.

The tank was showcased in the bed of ANGP’s ANG-powered Ford F-150 pickup, and it was developed by UTRC under ARPA-E’s Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy program. ANGP holds an exclusive license to UTRC’s design that applies to non-metal composite tanks containing activated carbon adsorbents at pressures of up to 1,000 psi, according to ANGP.

“It combines lower operating pressures, a cost-effective high capacity adsorbent, a groundbreaking conformable tank design, and miniature rotary compressor technology in a total system solution,” said Bob Bonelli, ANGP co-founder and chief executive officer. “The lower pressure of ANG differentiates it from compressed natural gas (CNG) by allowing tank walls to be thinner and fuel dispensers to use smaller, less expensive compressors that consume far less energy.”

ANGP assembled leading technology providers UTRC, the Ingevity Corporation, and Aspen Compressor to help commercialize the tank. The coalition also includes other companies that specialize in the design and installation of natural gas fueling stations and conversions of vehicles to natural gas.

The tank will be made available in the first quarter of 2017.

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