REV Group, a U.S. manufacturer of specialty vehicle brands, has introduced the Cummins-Westport LN9 natural gas engine to its Capital range of terminal tractors, also referred to as yard jockey trucks. Certified to the CARB and EPA Optional Low NOx emissions standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr, the engine has 90% fewer NOx emissions than the current North American EPA standard.
The Capacity TJ9000 L9N terminal tractors is set up to operate using Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), considered by many to be a cleaner energy source when compared to traditional diesel options. With a GCWR of up to 242,000-lbs, the LNG-powered tractor can work anywhere: intermodal, warehouse and distribution, or for port trucking.
LNG is more competitive in matching the duty cycles of a Diesel-powered tractor compared to other alternative fuel solutions. This is important, as the time required for refueling equals lost time, and therefore lost profitability, for the customer.
The stainless-steel tank used by Capacity Trucks was designed by Chart Industries Inc. and provides an expected service life of 25 years. With a tank volume of 127 gallons, the LNG tractor is set to exceed the total energy of Capacity’s standard 50-gallon Diesel tank.
The TJ9000 terminal tractor, powered by the L9N LNG engine, is set to take part in a case study performed by the California Energy Commission (CEC). Currently, an order of 20 units will operate for one year at the Port of Los Angles (POLA) in competition against fully-electric units manufactured by an industry competitor. It is anticipated that the LNG units will fare well in competition due to the increased energy density, as electrical units will require refueling (charging) more frequently. In addition, more time is required to perform a charge than to fill an LNG tank (~1 hour vs. ~10 minutes).
“Capacity Trucks is excited to be partnering with the California Energy Commission on this progressive project. Sustainability is a key initiative for REV Group and this LNG case study will pave the way for further use of alternative fuels in terminal trucks and other specialty vehicles,” commented Ray Quatrochi, REV Group’s VP of Product Innovation.
REV Group and the Capacity Trucks team look forward to the continuation of this case study and the soon-to-be-released Cummins-Westport B6.7N engine integration within the LNG platform.
