More Fleets Adopting Natural Gas Trucks as Fueling Network Advances
Three more fleets said they have added tractors powered by natural gas, the latest signs of growth in the use of alternative fuels.
Pacer International Inc., a provider of freight transportation and logistics services, said it was leasing about 40 liquefied natural gas trucks for its Pacer Cartage Inc. subsidiary in Southern California. In addition, Golden Eagle Distributors Inc. said it has received its first compressed natural gas tractor, and Waste Management Inc. said it is introducing CNG-powered equipment in Ohio.
“Pacer will be testing the LNG trucks’ operational capabilities to determine continued deployment” of LNG equipment, Pacer, Dublin, Ohio, said on Sept. 8.
“We believe that the use of clean tractor technologies for our cartage operations is the right decision for our customers, the environment, and our company,” said Val Noel, president of Pacer Cartage.
Pacer said that LNG-powered trucks are estimated to produce 33% less nitrogen oxides and 20% less greenhouse-gas emissions than diesel-fueled trucks.
Waste Management announced plans to convert 55 of its trucks in Columbus, Ohio, to natural gas-powered vehicles.
Waste Management, Houston, said this will be its first fleet of CNG trucks in Ohio, supported by a CNG fueling station that will be built at the company’s Canal Winchester site.
“This new fueling facility will give us the direct capability to fuel a CNG fleet in the Columbus area, and with the CNG fleet, we’ll lower our fleet emissions, helping to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” Frank Fello, senior district manager for Waste Management of Ohio, said in a statement.
The trucks can carry about 50 gallons of CNG, allowing them to run 10 to 12 hours and complete a typical day’s waste or recycling collection route, the company said.
Waste Management, which has a fleet of about 1,000 CNG and LNG vehicles, has said it expects 80% of its new collection vehicle purchases to be natural gas powered trucks.
Beverage distributor Golden Eagle Distributors, Tucson, Ariz., said that it has received its initial compressed natural gas fleet vehicle in the first step to replacing all 23 trucks in its fleet with CNG by the end of this year.
“The vehicles are part of a strategic alternative fuel program at Golden Eagle focused on reducing transportation-generated emissions and reducing fuel costs,” the statement said.
CNG vehicles produce 95% less particulate matter, 80% less nitrogen oxide, and provide a reduction of 23% in greenhouse-gas emissions when compared to diesel engines, the statement said.
These moves follow steps earlier this year by Clean Energy Fuels to begin building a network of natural gas fueling stations at Pilot Flying J truck stops. In addition, oil company Royal Dutch Shell and engine maker Westport Innovations this month announced plans to work together on wider marketing of natural gas trucks.
