LANGLEY, BC — In a move to cater to the growing market for alternatively fueled vehicles, a new laboratory for the testing and certification of high pressure fuel systems and related components used on them has opened in Langley, British Columbia.

The independent, not-for-profit association, CSA Group, which provides testing and certification services and standards development, says it will also address the resulting infrastructure that will accompany the shift to alternative fuel sources such as hydrogen and compressed natural gas.

The Canadian government has committed to bringing emission standards in line with the standards in the United States. In order to meet this goal, the government is evaluating a number of alternative fuel source vehicles and will be introducing increasing stringent greenhouse gas emission standards.

The new laboratory and office provides contract testing services to all national and international standards and regulations worldwide.

It also specializes in the testing and certification of fuel storage systems and fueling station components for vehicles powered by alternative fuels, according to CSA Group, including compressed hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles, as well as compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas.

The test facility is also equipped to perform customized tests to validate the safety and lifetime endurance of low emission and zero emission alternative fueled vehicles including crush, penetration, fire and fuel ignition testing.

It also provides technical information services advising on alternative vehicle safety codes, standards and regulatory compliance and offers failure investigation services related to safety incidents.