A very interesting article. Not just for the switch to NatGas. The comments from the head guy. I'll bold it for everyone.
Sheehy Mail Contractors, Inc. (SMCI) of Waterloo is currently testing a new semi-truck engine that will allow commercial motor vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG) engines to run on renewable natural gas (RNG), which produces the lowest carbon footprint out of any modern-day fuel.
Since June, Sheey has been testing the Cummins-Westport ISL G Near Zero (NZ) NOx natural gas engine in two semi-trucks. These trucks have been traveling to the East Coast daily while producing near zero emissions.
The Cummins-Wesport ISL G Near Zero (NX) NOx natural gas engine is the first mid-range engine of its kind in North America. This engine is also the first engine in North America to receive emission certifications from both the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Air Resources Board (ARB) in California.
The engine has been optimized to operate entirely on natural gas which can be carried on the vehicle in either its compressed (CNG), liquefied (LNG), or even renewable (RNG) form. Currently, more than 92 percent of SMCI’s total semi-truck fleet operates on CNG fuel with more than 12 million CNG miles being driven so far in 2017.
As the transportation industry continues to evolve technologically the type of fuel used to power semi-trucks can be expected to as well. “The mode of power will be the mode that has the lowest cost of operation including acquisition costs and has the most robust refueling/recharging system,” John Sheehy, CEO of Sheehy Enterprises, said.
However, SMCI officials believes that by combining the use of RNG fuel with the ISL G Near Zero engine semi-trucks can run cleaner on RNG fuel than on electric. Although electricity is a considered a “clean fuel,” most of the electricity produced in the U.S is done so by consuming various fossil fuels such as coal. RNG fuel can be produced naturally via biomethane from landfills, animal fodder, and even wastewater treatment facilities.
With so many advances being made in both trucking and fuel technology the future looks bright, and SMCI is excited to be at the forefront, Sheehy said.
