Launch of the CNG Vehicle Management

The CNG Vehicle Management System (CVMS), launched on April 25 at the Hyatt Regency, Portof- Spain, will require installation of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag near to the CNG filling port on your natural gas vehicle.

Then, once the CNG nozzle is brought within a few centimetres of the CNG filling port on your vehicle, electronic verification takes place. If the vehicle’s CNG system is valid; the CNG kit and tank was inspected and if need be, tested, according to the manufacturer’s requirements, the dispensing of CNG will take place. If not, or if the system has been tampered with, CNG will be denied.

NGC CNG President Curtis Mohammed, said the RFID tag will cost between TT $250 and $300. Phase One of the CVMS will see the CVMS installed on the more than 150 CNG vehicles that belong to the National Gas Company (NGC) Group.

After installation, the CVMS on these vehicles will be tested over a three-month period before Phase Two begins - national implementation.

Mohammed assured that “even when this system is implemented nationally, existing CNG users will have a grace period to get their vehicles compliant.” What’s the benefit of the CVMS? Mohammed said it would enforce compliance for CNG kit installations and periodic re-inspections, because without an up-to-date inspection, your vehicle “will simply be denied CNG at all NGC CNG stations.” In addition, the system “can conceivably evolve to offer cashless transactions, promotional offers, fleet management and integration with other fuel types.”