For the past few years, a good number of transportation companies have been investing in converting their fleets to use natural gas instead of diesel or gasoline. With this, a CNG mini-boom has happened in the natural gas industry. Since CNG powered engines are more environment friendly, safer, cleaner, and cheaper many companies are encouraged to convert.
One such company committed to the conversion to CNG is Waste Management (WM). WM committed to convert eighty percent of its fleet into CNG-powered engines for the next couple of years. Also, they committed to have fifty CNG fueling stations all-over the US and Canada before the end of 2012.
Investing in CNG powered vehicles has been the trend for many companies in the US for the past few years. Many companies are encouraged to switch to CNG vehicles because of its many benefits including safety and cheaper costs without affecting performance in any way.
One of the companies eager to invest in CNG vehicles is TFC Recycling based in Virginia. They have recently added five CNG vehicles to their fleet making them the company with the most number of CNG vehicles in Virginia.
Also, Central Freight Lines from Texas will be testing 15 CNG powered vehicles for their delivery services. The success of this test may lead to more carrier companies converting to the more environment friendly CNG powered vehicle.
On the Conversion front NGV Motori, a leading CNG technology company and systems developer for more than 30 years, joined forces with CVS, a company with expertise in CNG vehicle and fueling solutions. They have created a diesel to CNG conversion package for the Mercedes 906 Engine. The conversion can be performed on any of the 2003 to 2009 model year Diesel MBE 900 series with the F 65 Detroit Diesel.
This collaboration, experts say, may lead to the inevitable expansion of light-duty as well as heavy-duty CNG powered markets in the US. The two companies are currently developing another conversion package for the E350 Super Duty 5.4L gas engine and Ford E 450 V10 engine – Super Duty 6.8L.
AT&T, a multinational telecommunications company, took their campaign for sustainability one step further by placing an order for 1,200 Chevrolet Express CNG cargo vans.
In addition, the company is planning to invest about $565,000,000 in purchasing approximately 15,000 CNG powered vehicles that will be distributed all over the US. They are planning to do this within a ten-year period.
According to General Motors, AT&T’s purchase of 1,200 CNG powered cargo vans has been the largest CNG vehicle purchase ever. They also said that they will continue to create more CNG powered vehicles to help companies like AT&T be one step closer to their aim of sustainability.
Here is a video about these GM CNG powered cargo vans:
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