Australia to Get Isuzu Trucks’ New Ultra-low Emission CNG Models

Isuzu will be the only Japanese manufacturer to offer a range of factory-backed Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks in Australia when the initial four models are released in the coming months. CNG variants of the NLR 200, NPR 300, FSR 700 and FSR 850 will include. These models are seen as an important component of Isuzu’s long-term low emission strategies. The new ultra-low emission CNG-powered models will offer environmental and cost-conscious fleets an alternative to diesel vehicles – a timely event given Australia’s impending emissions trading scheme to be introduced in 2010.

Isuzu currently offers the cleanest overall truck range in Australia, and the company is well advanced in the development of alternative fuel technologies, especially CNG. Isuzu first released CNG-powered trucks in Japan in 1991, and sales to date exceed 10,000 units.

The CNG trucks to be released comfortably exceed Japanese New Long Term 05 (EuroV equivalent) emissions standards, a level not mandated in Australia until 2011. In the areas of PM (Particulate Matter) and NOx (combination of Nitrogen Dioxide and Nitrous Oxide) emissions, the vehicles surpass EuroVI standards.

The CNG trucks – which will become a permanent part of Isuzu’s 130-plus model line-up – feature multi-point fuel injection engines that deliver comparable power to the regular diesel-powered equivalent models; in F Series models, the CNG variants produce even greater torque than the diesels. Recent Australian testing of Isuzu’s diesel-electric hybrid model revealed a very specific set of operating conditions were required to return any significant gains, hence the go-ahead for the CNG range.

Two of the trucks will be displayed at the Brisbane Truck and Machinery show this May (14-17).

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