The demand for clean, cost-effective renewable natural gas (RNG) as a transportation fuel continues to rise. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced it inked contracts to provide its Redeem™ renewable natural gas to power fleets across multiple sectors that include transit, trucking, airports, solid waste, and service vehicles.
Redeem became commercially available in 2013 and is derived from capturing biogenic methane that is naturally created by the decomposition of dairy, landfill, and wastewater treatment plant waste. As a vehicle fuel, Redeem enables at least 70% reduction in carbon emissions when displacing diesel or gasoline.
More fleets are transitioning to natural gas-powered vehicles (NGVs) for their performance, cost savings, environmental advantages, and extensive nationwide fueling network, with sales this year on an upward trajectory. As of May, year-to-date sales of NGVs surged 43%, according to ACT Research, and were also up 10% from April’s numbers.
NEAR-ZERO TRUCKS ROLL IN PORTS
Fleets in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the largest port complex in America, are taking delivery of 102 new near-zero trucks fueled by Redeem.
With funding available by the Carl Moyer Grant Program and other grant programs, port trucking companies are rolling out trucks equipped with the new Cummins-Westport (CWI) near-zero ISX12N natural gas engine. The ISX12N is certified by California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce smog-forming NOx emissions by 90% compared to the current engine standard.
“Fortunately for those who live in the area of the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, more near-zero trucks are operating on RNG, which will help combat air pollution in Southern California,” Chad Lindholm, vice president of Clean Energy, says. “These near-zero natural gas trucks can have a huge positive impact on the environment and provide the level of performance that fleet operators expect.”
Among the fleets taking delivery is Green Fleet Systems, which committed to 20 near-zero trucks and RNG fuel at a fixed price well below diesel.
TTSI took delivery of 40 near-zero trucks under Clean Energy’s Zero Now Program, which makes the cost of leasing or purchasing a new natural gas heavy-duty truck equal to the price or even lower than that of the same truck equipped with a diesel engine. In addition, truck fleets financed or purchased through Zero Now can purchase natural gas fuel at a fixed price significantly discounted to diesel.
Other companies that have or will take delivery of near-zero trucks include Tradelink Transport, Green Trucking, Overseas Freight, West Coast Trucking, Supra National Express, and MDB Transportation, a division of AJR Trucking.
Find out more, visit www.cleanenergyfuels.com.
