EcoDual, LLC, a provider of dual-fuel conversion systems for heavy duty diesel trucks, has achieved authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to begin installing its systems on all 29 engine families of the 2004 to 2009 Cummins ISM engines. The EPA designated the EcoDual system as fully compliant with the Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversions (CAFC) rule under the Outside Useful Life approval category.
The EcoDual conversion kit for the 11L Cummins ISM engine will provide fleets with an opportunity to substitute low cost natural gas for expensive diesel fuel. The company says the cost of the dual-fuel system is often recovered in operational savings within one year without any government incentives.
The dual-fuel conversion systems enable existing heavy duty diesel trucks to operate on a combination of diesel and natural gas with an average substitution of 60% natural gas over typical driving conditions. In dual-fuel operation, the trucks maintain full torque and power with no loss of miles per gallon. The systems are easily installed at the fleet owner’s site and are fully warranted.
Dual-fuel provides the added benefit of automatic operation of the truck on 100% diesel at full power if the natural gas tank runs dry.
EcoDual offers a standard range configuration of 400+ miles (644 kms) on dual-fuel plus 400+ additional miles on 100% diesel, or an extended range configuration of 800+ miles (1288 kms) on dual fuel.
Over the next 12 months, EcoDual expects to release multiple systems certified for newer trucks with the Cummins ISM and ISX engines and other engine families from Detroit Diesel, Mack, PACCAR and Caterpillar.
(This article primarily compiled using information from an EcoDual LLC press release)
