Coming to a local neighborhood near you: a new Ameren Illinois "gas sniffing" vehicle that can quickly identify the presence of methane emissions, pinpoint the source of potential leaks, and speed the response time to repair pipelines.  

The "gas sniffer" works by deploying a high-tech analyzer on the rear of a hybrid electric vehicle. As the vehicle drives through city streets, it detects the presence of methane and ethane and passes air samples to a device that records wind speed and directional readings. Ameren Illinois crews use the GPS coordinates to pinpoint the location and mobilizes response units. The technology is powered by ABB MobileGuard™ and is capable of detecting methane gas presence hundreds of feet away.