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• A fuel card and so much more

  There are many options out there where fleet fuel card solutions are concerned. As companies shop around for a program that fits their needs, they are beginning to realize that a fleet fuel card program should be about a lot more than the simple swipe of a card. We live in a digital age and, as such, have new tools at our disposal.
  
  The fleet fuel card has evolved. If you aren’t being provided with a full suite of services, then it is time to look elsewhere. Here at CityServiceValcon, we offer one of the most comprehensive, efficient, and cost-saving solutions around. We like to refer to our program as another form of cost management for business owners. Why? Because the mere act of using the card helps you better manage your business’ costs.
  
  Our fuel card program offers four benefits separate from the plastic fuel card itself. The four umbrella benefits are:
  
  

  • Controlled purchases;
  • Fuel management,
  and;
  • National fuel access.

  
  
  Each of these factors achieves the desired result through specific actions. In controlling your purchases, our program helps you protect your assets. The card is secured for use only by the operator it has been assigned to and strict controls can be placed on how it is used. Fraud alerts and paperless solutions – such as e-receipts and software-based data reporting – add even more value.
  
  Owners of fleets can manage their fuel costs by understanding where every gallon goes. CityServiceValcon provides the tools fleets need to monitor their fleet and driver activity in real-time, all while consolidating their entire needs with one vendor versus reconciling multiple receipts from many stations.
  
  Effective fuel management helps your organization streamline operations while access to an extensive preferred fuel access network adds efficiency. What is the end result? Your people are happier and your business cuts costs. Everybody wins.
  
  For more information on our leading fuel access card program, simply follow this link.

• Everything you need to know about aviation fuel

  Transportation runs on fuel. Fast transportation across continents requires aviation fuel. But how much do you really know about this important substance?
  
  
  Aviation fuel is a specialized type of fuel. As with other types, aviation fuel is petroleum-based. It is used specifically to power aircraft. Because of the nature of aircraft travel, aviation fuel is usually of higher quality than fuels used in other applications. The primary reason for this is the fact that aviation fuel generally uses additives to reduce the risk of icing or explosion, mainly due to the high temperatures involved.
  
  There are two types of aviation fuel:
  
  Avgas: The most common, aviation gas is used in standard, internal-combustion, spark-ignited aircraft engines. Unlike motor vehicle gas, avgas is formulated to perform consitently under a wide variety of applications.
  
  
  Jet fuel: Jet fuel is quite distinct. This clear, straw-colored fuel is similar to diesel fuel. It can be used in either compression ignition or turbine engines. There are two types of jet fuel, Jet A which is unleaded kerosene and Jet B, a naphtha-kerosene blend. Jet A fuel requires a very high temperature to ignite.
  
  While some aircraft applications also use compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG), the majority use avgas or jet fuel. Aircraft running on turbofans can use a wide range of different fuels. The industry is moving more toward liquid, syngas and bio jet fuel, all representing the vanguard of the aviation fuel industry.
  
  Do you have questions about what aviation fuel you should use? We can help. Contact your friends at CityServiceValcon today.

• Ant venom as fuel?

  We all know it. While fossil fuels have powered a century and fueled a level of growth never before seen in humankind, they are not an infinite resource. It doesn’t really matter what side of the climate change debate you land on, the simple fact is, fossil fuels won’t last forever.
  
  That’s why, here at the CityServiceValcon Blog, we make sure to keep you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in fuel information, news and latest research. Today, we’re going to revisit the most recent advance in ‘green’ fuel research.
  
  The ‘green’ fuel spotlight up until now has been on hydrogen. While battery-powered technologies are making big inroads, we’re a fuel services company, so we report on fuel rather than batteries (though the line these days is blurring).
  
  Students at the University of Technology in the Netherlands have created the world’s first bus that runs on formic acid. That’s right, the substance that delivers the “Ouch!” when an ant or a bee stings you might also be the world’s next most-promising biofuel.
  
  The great thing about this development is that formic acid is far cheaper than both oil and hydrogen (the other main ‘green’ fuel), but delivers essentially the same environmental benefits. Just like hydrogen, formic acid releases both water and carbon dioxide when emitted, except here there is one key difference.
  
  Formic acid releases far LESS carbon dioxide than hydrogen. So much less, in fact, that the amount released would be on par with the amount taken from the atmosphere to produce the fuel. Meaning? No net increases in emissions. Formic acid can also be used as a generator fuel and contribute to a ‘green’ grid in a number of other ways.
  
  So, might you one day find us delivering you a fresh, new supply of formic acid? If it’s on the market and you need it to power your equipment or vehicles, you can assume we’ll be on top of it for you.

• Is a fuel cell revolution right around the corner?

  As the worldwide energy demand continues to increase, companies, governments, and organizations have been making big strides in commercializing efficient and “cleaner” energy sources.
  
  One such energy source is the fuel cell. But what exactly is a fuel cell?
  
  Essentially, a fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy into electricity through electro-chemical interactions. Fuel cells have been at the top of researchers’ minds because they promise a high energy-conversion rate at a low operating temperature.
  
  A basic fuel cell is comprised of two electrodes – an anode and a cathode. An electrolyte is used to facilitate the movement of a charged particle between both electrodes.
  
  Yet, fuel cells still haven’t become mainstream. Why is that?
  
  The problem facing fuel cell researchers and manufacturers lies in what is called the “fuel cell efficiency aggregation.” Without getting too deep into the technical weeds, this essentially means that the electro-catalyst used suffers a loss of activity due to aggregation and bleeds energy as the charged particle makes its way between electrodes.
  
  Yet new research points to a way of overcoming that challenge. In a recent paper published in Particle & Particle Systems Characterization, researchers at the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have effectively shown that there is a way to prevent aggregation and energy loss.
  
  The researchers used a single nano-tube housed within a carbon shell – seriously advanced chemical research, no doubt. When encapsulated in a carbon shell, the charged nano-particle does not interact with the substrate surface.
  
  When researchers changed the thickness of the carbon shell, they were able to reproduce different – yet enhanced – effects within the nano-particle.
  
  Fuel cells come with significant environmental benefits and a level of portability that cannot be afforded to traditionally-fueled vehicles. Research like this points to their increasing viability in the transportation ecosystem of the future.
  
  It’s exciting to see what technology will bring to the future of fuel. CityServiceValcon will continue to use the most up-to-date processes in the industry to bring you the best fuel possible. After all, fuel is the name of our game.

• Why you should be using our fuel card program

  Are you stuck in the past trying to track driver receipts by hand, using outdated methods that only make your job harder and give your back-office workers a headache?
  
  If so, it’s time to consider switching to CityServiceValcon’s fuel card program.
  
  Through our program, you can keep your fleet vehicles and important equipment fueled up and ready to go without having to mess with credit cards or a stack of paper receipts.
  
  If you are a commercial business who consumes 250 gallons of fuel or more per month, then our card is for you. You can expect to receive a high level of support that you just wouldn’t get with other similar programs.
  
  Our fuel card program allows you to track:
  
  

  • Fuel site locations
  • Which vehicle has been fueled
  • Time and date
  • Type of fuel used
  • Which driver made the transaction

  
  
  Not only does our program track this information for you, but we provide it back to you in the form of an easy-to-read report. Trust us, your back-office bookkeeper will thank you.
  
  Whether you need to get a new card, remove a card from circulation, or ask questions, our friendly staff is always here to help. The fact is, our fuel card saves you time and simplifies your transactions.
  
  And don’t worry, our fuel card program is accepted at over 40,000 Fleetcor fuel sites nationwide. Even if there are no CFN or Pacific Pride stations in a particular area, our cards are also accepted at specific Fuelman locations.
  
  Want more information how our fleet fueling solutions can work for you? Contact us today!

• Biofuels: The debate rages on

  With oil news in the spotlight lately, many people are wondering what is going on with biofuels. Certainly, turning plants into fuel sounds really cool and really green, but the story runs deeper than that. Some biofuels impact food supplies and actually put out more greenhouse gas emissions than their fossil fuel counterparts.
  
  The fact is, low-emissions alternative fuels are still one of the three major pillars of global decarbonization efforts. First generation biofuels – essentially alcohol made from food crops – paved the way for second-generation biofuels, created from wood and crop waste.
  
  What it really boils down to is whether or not the energy produced from a particular biofuel is also produced from an organic material, like corn or sugar. Producers are aiming for carbon-neutrality. Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they also emit it when they are burned for fuel. While some argue that plant emissions don’t count because the carbon was already there, the debate rages on.
  
  Another point of contention lies in land use. Considering biofuels require much more productive land than fossil fuels, some wonder if these energy sources are truly viable over the long term.
  
  As with most environmental issues, there’s a good and bad side to the story, but biofuels hold great promise as one of the pillars of our nation’s industry infrastructure. How they evolve in the marketplace over time, however, is anybody’s guess.