Feb 14, 2008

Big Trucks Go Green

The days of big trucks spewing unburned hydrocarbons into the atmosphere may be numbered. Kenworth Truck Company has announced it will expand its presence in the growing market for environmentally friendly, liquefied natural gas (LNG) vehicles by beginning production of Kenworth T800 LNG trucks at its manufacturing facility in Renton, Wash., next year. Under an exclusive agreement with Westport Innovations, a Vancouver, B.C. specialist in LNG conversions, Kenworth will use Westport's LNG fuel system technology adapted for the Cummins ISX 15-liter engine.

"The Kenworth T800, equipped with a Cummins ISX and Westport's HPDI fuel system, offers an industry-leading solution with world-class low emissions and greenhouse gases, while delivering outstanding horsepower, torque, and efficiency comparable to a diesel engine," said Bob Christensen, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president.

The LNG system for heavy duty Class 8 trucks offers class-leading emissions, including lower greenhouse gas emissions than comparable diesel engines, and it allows trucking fleets to shift to lower-cost, domestically available natural gas and/or biogas. It includes LNG fuel tanks, proprietary fuel injectors, cryogenic fuel pumps and associated electronic components. The Cummins engine equipped with the Westport LNG system is available with 400 and 450 horsepower ratings and up to 1,750 pound-feet of torque for heavy-duty port, freight, and vocational applications. The LNG fuel tanks can be configured to suit customer range requirements, since natural gas refilling stations are harder to find that diesel stations.