Energy Insitute Frogmobile unveiled
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Fort Worth, TX
9/9/2010
By Nancy Bartosek, TCU MagazineIt’s time to get serious about reducing our dependence on oil, says Ken Morgan, director of the TCU Energy Institute. “And natural gas vehicles (NGVs) are the best clean, domestic-energy transportation solution we have on hand right now.”
On Wednesday, Sept. 8, Morgan was handed the keys to a custom painted, 2010 Honda Civic GX that is solely powered by natural gas. The car was a gift from select members of the Energy Institute’s Metroplex NGV Consortium, a group of nearly 60 companies dedicated to increasing the use of NGVs through education and research. It is the only consortium of its kind in the nation that is founded and operated within a university.
"We want to thank Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, Encana Oil & Gas, EOG Resources, Pioneer Resources, Quicksilver Resouces and Western Production for donating this vehicle to our program,” Morgan said. “It will help us demonstrate our commitment to advancing sustainable and greener technologies as we work to meet our nation’s transportation needs and domestic energy future.”
The Frogmobile, as the car has been dubbed, will be a centerpiece this fall at Frog Alley, and part of the Energy Institute’s sponsorship of the popular pre-game activities. It will also be driven and shown at many other events and talks involving the Energy Institute.
The TCU Energy Institute is part of the School of Geology, Energy and the Environment, which is a school within the College of Science & Engineering. It hosts classes, workshops, seminars and research related to the technology and management of our nation’s energy needs, and supported by local energy companies.
Facts about the Energy Institute’s NGV car:
- Runs exclusively on natural gas that is produced here in Texas
- Emissions are 30 percent cleaner than from gasoline-powered vehicles
- The price of a gallon of natural gas fuel equivalent can run between $.75 and $2 at today’s prices
- Artwork on the car was provided by Tony Quattrocchi, a designer for the Andretti family race cars