The Freightliner Cascadia 113 CNG on tour
A natural gas-fueled Freightliner Cascadia from Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has completed a tour from San Diego, California, to Washington D.C. (approximately 2,700 miles – 4,340 kms). The compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuelled truck only used public gas stations to refuel, thus demonstrating that alternative drive technologies represent a real alternative even today. In light of this success, DTNA CEO Martin Daum promised that DTNA will keep pushing forward in the field of alternative drive systems and continue to cooperate closely with government agencies and form strategic alliances with other economic sectors. “We want to live up to our leadership position by promoting environmentally friendly, resource-conserving, and sustainable transportation solutions,” he said.
The tour started in Long Beach, Calif., on May 17, 2012 and took a Freightliner Cascadia 113-inch BBC day cab equipped with the new Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine to Freightliner Trucks dealerships throughout the United States, ending in Washington, D.C. on May 24. The tractor – which hauled a 53-foot trailer loaded with 30,000 lbs. – was filled up with CNG every 250 miles (on average) at available public fueling stations, with 450 miles being the longest distance between fill-ups, resulting in an estimated fuel cost savings of $700.
Note: Fuel cost savings were based on a comparison of actual CNG fuel prices and diesel prices closest to the CNG filling location. The calculations also took into account a 15 percent estimated fuel economy degradation vs. diesel.
(This article compiled using information from Freightliner Trucks)
