NEW ZEALAND --- The International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles (IANGV) has awarded a contract to Australian-based Dr. Hien Ly to perform an analysis of the gaps in the international natural gas vehicle (NGV) standards. The analysis will provide input to the Roundtable on Harmonization of Standards, to be held in Geneva on Jan. 10. The objective of the study is to identify the relevant international standards and regulations pertaining to NGVs, to compare them and identify key differences and to identify areas where there are currently no published international standards or regulations. The final report will contain a commentary on the results of the investigation to assist in charting a course of action, the IANGV said. Because harmonization work is already addressing differences between ECE R110 and ISO 15500 (CNG vehicle gas system components), the new project will not explore this issue. The areas covered by the study include vehicles, refueling stations, cylinder refueling, and gas quality including natural gas, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and biomethane. The international standards and regulatory bodies include the International Standardization Organization (ISO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) and the International Organization for Legal Metrology (OIML). The study will also identify areas where there are no international standards, and existing international standards and regulations that need revisions or amendments, in light of new industry and market requirements. As part of the ongoing maintenance process, ISO is currently considering the revision of several of its CNG standards; other ISO standards will fall due in due course. Ly has worked in the whole range of technical and commercial areas of NGV for over 25 years in several countries. He is also a long-time IANGV Technical Committee member, and has been on the committees of several national and international NGV standards, some of which as IANGV’s representative. He is currently chairman of Standards Australia Committee AG 009 (CNG refuelling stations). Ly will work in consultation with the IANGV Technical Committee.