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A cleaner fuel for the long haul
Trucking firms and other industries are stepping up interest in using natural gas cooled to liquid (LNG) as a cleaner fuel. But it poses challenges, such as: Where do I fill up?
One of western Canada’s main trucking routes runs nearly 1,600 kilometres (1,000 miles) from northern Alberta to the British Columbia port of Vancouver. Most of the trucks run on diesel. But some run on fuel that can significantly cut polluting exhaust emissions: natural gas, cooled to a liquid for easy storage.
Some large companies are taking the lead in using the new cleaner-burning fuel. LNG powers around 200 of Heckmann Corp’s 600 trucks as they cover 52 million kilometres (32 million miles) of North American roads each year.
“Environmentally it’s cleaner,” says Heckmann’s John Lucey. “We save around 30% on fuel costs and we get the same power. For us the decision was simple.”
Joining forces
But two major hurdles exist to wider take-up. One is the cost and expertise needed to adapt and maintain LNG-fuelled engines. Another is too few refuelling stops.
Shell and engine-designer Westport Innovations are now taking a unique joint approach to meet these challenges. Westport Innovations provides technical know-how, while trucks will soon fill up at Shell’s LNG refuelling stations being built along the Alberta-British Columbia route. Both services offer trucking fleets the opportunity to save money.
As more trucks begin to use LNG as fuel, Shell plans to open further refuelling stations across Canada and the USA. The company is also investigating with other partners the use of LNG to run diesel trains and power machinery in mining operations.
