J.B. Hunt First to Test RNG-Fueled Peterbilt 579-X15N
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Multiple motor carriers have lined up to participate in a test of a single Peterbilt tractor powered by a Cummins engine fueled by renewable natural gas.
The program is being operated by alternative fuel supplier Clean Energy Fuels, which will provide the RNG from its portfolio of service stations.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services is first in line to test the 2025 Peterbilt 579 tractor equipped with the Cummins X15N engine. Ruan, Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings and Kenan Advantage Group will follow.
J.B. Hunt ranks No. 3 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America and No. 2 on the TT Top 100 truckload/dedicated haulers sector list. Knight-Swift ranks No. 7 on the TT Top 100 for-hire carriers list and No. 1 among truckload carriers. Kenan ranks No. 21 on the TT Top 100 for-hire carriers list and is the top-ranked tank truck/bulk carrier. Ruan ranks No. 23 on the TT Top 100 for-hire carriers list and No. 12 on the truckload list.
We are excited to announce our participation in @ce_renewables's pilot program using the natural gas-powered Cummins X15N tractor. Learn more about this step in our sustainability journey! https://t.co/BHypnztTVE — J.B. Hunt 360 (@jbhunt360) September 16, 2024
Each carrier will test the day cab tractor in succession. Further fleet testing is expected toward the end of 2024 and into 2025, said Clean Energy.
Full production of Cummins’ X15N natural gas engine got underway in September. Peterbilt launched production of trucks with the engine in the third quarter. In addition to the Model 579, Peterbilt offers the truck as an option on the Model 567 and 520 refuse truck models.
Lowell, Ark.-based J.B. Hunt already operates more than 180 RNG-powered vehicles. The company’s experience with RNG stretches back more than 15 years.
“We are constantly exploring and testing opportunities that have the potential to deliver value for customers who are looking to reduce carbon emissions in their supply chain,” said Greer Woodruff, executive vice president of safety, sustainability and maintenance at J.B. Hunt. “We are excited to be the first carrier in Clean Energy’s pilot program and to get hands-on experience with the Cummins X15N tractor. Vehicles powered by renewable natural gas produce significantly less carbon emissions throughout their life cycle and are more compatible with today’s available infrastructure than most competing emissions reduction technologies.”
“The new technology and supporting fuel network in this pilot have the potential to be a viable, cost-effective solution for customers wanting to decrease their carbon footprint in the near term,” he added.
We've launched our demo truck program with @jbhunt360 kicking off the test drives. Powered by #renewablenaturalgas #RNG, the @PeterbiltGroup tractor is equipped with @Cummins #X15N & will be tested by fleets looking to challenge the engine's capabilities: https://t.co/aJQRKnUsBW pic.twitter.com/XmL3RWbck3 — Clean Energy (@ce_renewables) September 16, 2024
J.B. Hunt has set a goal to reduce its carbon emissions by 32% by 2034 from a 2019 baseline. In 2023, the company surpassed the halfway mark for reaching its goal.
The carrier is testing multiple fuel options as well as expanding its intermodal operations. For example, it is testing the potential of hydrogen-fueled trucks and battery-electric options, including tractors manufactured by Nikola Motors. The carrier is keen not to put all its eggs in one basket.
“For one electric truck, you will need the same electricity that it takes to power 600 homes. To put that in perspective, the fast-charging infrastructure needed to support J.D. Hunt’s fleet — if we were to be entirely electric — would be the electricity of 1.4 million households. That’s 1% of the U.S.,” CEO Shelley Simpson told the Advanced Clean Transportation 2024 conference in May.
The company is pushing for an increase in charging infrastructure; it has joined the Powering America’s Commercial Transportation lobbying coalition launched by Paccar Inc., Daimler Truck North America, Navistar Inc. and Volvo Group North America launched in January..
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