viridis technologies inc. rfid systems technologies inc •manufacturer of cng, ... from angva...

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April 2010

Safe NGV’s: The Viridis RFID SolutionPatent Pending

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Viridis Technologies Inc

• Manufacturer of CNG, Hydrogen, Propane &

LNG fuel dispensers and related equipment

• Facilities in Toronto, Mumbai, & Singapore

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Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

• Used as vehicle fuel in over 80 countries

– > 14,500 stations worldwide

– > 9.6 million vehicles worldwide

• Abundant supply of natural gas

• Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases,

particulate and NOx

• Low cost

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Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

• High operating pressure: 3600 psi

• Requires specialized equipment

– Engine/conversion kit for natural gas

– Cylinders designed for high pressure natural gas

• Highly explosive gas

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Typical CNG Station

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The Problem

• NGV’s numbers growing globally

• While standards exist for equipment, no

means of enforcing them

• Unregulated conversion of vehicles

– Sub-standard/faulty equipment used

• No routine inspection of vehicles

• Modification of vehicles post conversion

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Unregulated Retrofit Facility

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The Safety Challenge

From ANGVA Presentation: NGV: THE SAFETY CHALLENGE, 7/2009

• Challenge in every country where CNG is used

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The Safety Challenge

• Substandard equipment leads to explosions

causing death, injury and property damage

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The Safety Challenge

• Significant financial liabilities for industry

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The Safety Challenge

• Negative publicity & impeded growth for

industry

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• Reduced government support for natural gas

vehicle (NGV) programs

The Safety Challenge

From ANGVA Presentation: NGV: THE SAFETY CHALLENGE, 7/2009

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The Safety Challenge

From ANGVA Presentation: NGV: THE SAFETY CHALLENGE, 7/2009

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The Safety Challenge

• Lack traceability of conversions and/or

inspections

• Routine installation of illegal cylinders

• Difficult if not impossible to enforce routine

inspection of cylinders

• No assured method to restrict fueling to

only certified vehicles

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The Safety Challenge: Current Solutions

• Educate regulatory authorities & all stakeholders

on safety standards for NGV’s

• Enforcement of safety standards wherever

possible

• Restrict conversions to trained & certified

personnel

• Attempt regular vehicle inspections

• Regulate conversion facilities

• Control fueling of vehicles.

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Identification of Vehicles

• Magnetic card

• Identification sticker

• Infrared

• Bar coding

All options susceptible to fraudulent duplication, lack

reliability and have proven to be unsuitable for the

harsh environment of natural gas vehicles.

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Viridis RFID SystemPatent Pending

• Combines :– Reliable identification of certified &

inspected vehicles

– Automated refueling of certified vehicles

– Secure central database of certified vehicles and installers.

• Interfaces with existing CNG dispensers

• Readily implemented on all types of NGV’s

• Approved for use in hazardous locations

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Viridis RFID System: Components

• RFID Dispenser Controller

• Stand alone unit, interfaces with any brand of

CNG dispensers.

• Authorizes dispenser to fuel vehicle once tag

is identified.

• Intrinsically Safe Antenna

• Designed for each refueling nozzle.

• Vehicle Tag

• Tag designed specifically for use in harsh

NGV environment.

• Permanently mounted on vehicle.

• Programmed with user selectable data.

• SSM

• Collects transaction data, operates as billing

system.

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Requirements of RFID Technology

• Must operate in harsh environment, high humidity & temperature

• Resistant to EMI

• Data programmed on the RFID tag must be stable & reliable

• Unaffected by metal

• Resistant to vibration

• Impervious to dirt & contamination

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Dispenser TerminalPatent Pending

• Dispenser terminal operates as a stand alone unit without external communications

• Intrinsically safe RFID antenna located adjacent to fueling nozzle

• Automatically reads vehicle RFID tag

• Verifies vehicle is authorized to be fueled

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Dispenser TerminalPatent Pending

• Displays vehicle identification on dispenser to permit operator to confirm vehicle license matches that on the tag

• Verifies the vehicle tank configuration matches the system as identified on the tag.

• Continuously monitors tag during fueling. Optionally can identify customer ID & change dispenser price

• Optionally capture transaction data & transmit to host system on or off site

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Transponder ProgrammingPatent Pending

• Programming by authorized users

• Vehicle equipment data, including cylinder,

tubing, receptacle & other data as required

• Database is maintained by Viridis server

• Tag is automatically programmed &

verified by Viridis server

• Secured with high level encryption

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Viridis RFID: Safety Features

• Fully automatic – no user intervention possible.

• Fail safe – refueling stops within 1 second if tag signal is lost or changed.

• Volume verification – compares actual cylinder volume with programmed

volume to detect cylinder modifications.

** 2010: Integrated cylinder identification system to be released.

• Encryption technology – tags and communication technology cannot be

replicated.

• Traceability – database of certified installers, inspectors and NGV’s.

• Accuracy & repeatability – 100% read rate of tags, no cross-reading of valid

tags at stations.

• Fraud protection – tags are destroyed if removed from vehicle.

• Approvals– system is intrinsically safe, UL approved, ATEX certification

pending.

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Viridis RFID: Commercial Features

• Pre-set Transaction Limits

• Ability to limit individual transactions to a maximum # of Kg or purchase

amount. Transaction permissions allow control of which vehicles can be

fueled at specific times of the day or by certain drivers.

• Pre-paid Transactions

• Gas can be pre-purchased. RFID tag operates in a similar manner to a

pre-paid phone card.

• Post-purchase Credit Card Processing

• Customers can link a credit card to the tag in their vehicle.

• Billing System

• Seamless transfer of fueling transaction data to customer’s host

computer.

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Viridis Solution: Pilot Project India

• Secure LF RFID tags installed on buses.

• Programming of tags at fueling station.

• Each tag contained complete profile of the vehicle’s CNG sytem.

• Tags were specifically designed to be installed on metal surface of buses.

• Tags were permanently affixed to the vehicle.

RFID Tag Installed At

Nozzle Receptacle

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Viridis Solution: Pilot Project India

• RFID tag data secured with high level encryption to prevent duplication.

• Project Added Features:– Verify that cylinders on board vehicle are the same as recorded on

vehicle RFID tag.

– To prevent unauthorized cylinder swaps after RFID tag has been issued to a vehicle.

– Verify the total cylinder capacity during fueling to prevent additional cylinders being added.

– Failsafe operation – loss of tag signal during fueling terminates the fill immediately.

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Viridis Solution: Pilot Project India

• Intrinsically safe RFID antenna installed on fueling nozzle.

• Close read range assured only the vehicle being fueled is identified by the Viridis system.

• The Viridis dispenser controller had 100% accuracy in reading tag data. All data is verified before transaction begins.

• Assured vehicle was correctly identified for billing purposes.

• Vehicle tag is continuously monitoring during fueling to prevent an operator from switching to another vehicle after a transaction has begun.

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Viridis Solution: Pilot Project India

• The Viridis system collected transaction data that was utilized for billing purposes.

• Redundant data capture for transaction data insures security of valuable sales data.

• Standardized data output format from Viridis RFID controller was input to central system for billing purposes.

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Pilot Project Lessons

• The RFID technology proved to be reliable in harsh

NGV environment.

• 100% read rate of tags is possible.

• Current encryption level is secure and suitable for billing

purposes.

• Implementation of RFID as a means of ensuring safe

fueling of natural gas vehicles requires support from all

stakeholders.

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Viridis RFID SystemPatent Pending

• Certified for use in hazardous locations.

• Reliable & secure means of identifying

certified & inspected vehicles

• Encrypted data to prevent fraud

• No operator intervention

• Secure central database assures

traceability of all vehicle systems

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Viridis RFID System: Next GenerationPatent Pending

• CNG RFID projects in 11 countries in

2010.

• Second generation pilot projects beginning

late 2010.

• Projects for Hydrogen, LPG and LNG.

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250 Shields Court, #5, Markham (Toronto) ON, Canada L3R 9W7

T: +1.905.918.2836 F: +1.905.918.2855