Things are looking up in the advanced vehicle and fuel technology arena, according to a slew of recent studies and polls. First up is a report from UK based Grant Thornton that found almost one-fourth of business leaders globally are considering introducing new clean fuels and technologies into their fleets to combat rising fuel prices. Costs, combined with economic uncertainty in general, are the reasons three-fourths of U.S. consumers are contemplating purchasing a fuel-efficient vehicle. The Consumer Reports National Research Center checked in with car owners, and those who rank fuel economy high, also care about the environmental and petroleum displacement benefits that go along with such a purchase.

President Obama is in swing-state Iowa today where he’ll urge extensions for a production tax credit for  wind and a clean-energy manufacturing credit. According to the latest United Technologies/National Journal Congressional Connection Poll, 64% of those surveryed believe Congress should extend those credits and encourage production of alternative sources of energy. While U.S. Congressional impotence makes it unlikely that such extensions will happen in an election year, the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines is putting funding behind the adoption and deployment of natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Utilities have up to $12 million available to them for compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations and up to $30.5 million for liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure.

It’s all about the infrastructure according to the latest Frost & Sullivan guess on the future of NGV sales. Assuming infrastructure expands, their recent finding is that over one million CNG and LPG vehicles will be sold by 2018. Waste Industries is doing their part to make that happen as Fleet Owner announces the waste disposal company is adding 20 CNG trucks and one fueling station to their operations. Even though the incremental cost of NG trucks is higher, the company expects to see an immediate $2/gallon price for fuel and savings through fewer maintenance costs. When it comes to fueling, California-based Propel Fuels is thinking ahead. Last week they launched their first of 200 Clean Mobility Centers which aims to flex to meet fueling needs as vehicle options expand.  Their first station has opened in Fullerton where the choices include E85, biodiesel, and traditional gasoline.

Between 1922-1945 the United States Fleet was an organization in the U.S. Navy.” Commander in Chief of the U.S. Fleet” was given the unfortunate acronym of CINCUS (pronounced “sink us”). That acronym landed the number 12 spot on the top 25 worst acronyms of all time on the begtodiffer.com website. I’m thinking MMOWGLI could be up for consideration soon. That’s the acronym for a week-long online competition where the Navy offers up hypothetical disasters involving fuel shortages and players are invited to solve the problem using alternatives to fossil fuels. When else are you going to be able to engage in online gaming while serving your country at the same time?