USA-based Kenworth Truck Company hosted a truck show in Indianapolis featuring compressed natural gas (CNG) powered and hybrid Kenworths at the start of December. The company’s dedication to provision of green fleet choices includes compressed and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trucks. More than 350 truck and fleet operators learned about new available equipment and the future of natural gas fuel in the trucking industry. Also presented were free training sessions on vehicle maintenance and grant writing.
“Truck operators and their technicians got a lot of great information about spec’ing choices, maintenance and grant assistance to help make the new technology more affordable,” said Jacob Nichols, general manager of Kenworth of Indianapolis. “A seven-person panel discussion provided information and opinions on the growth and future of natural gas in heavy duty trucks and the transportation industry. Participants learned how the rising cost of diesel and the increasing availability of domestic gas reserves is helping to build momentum for the adoption of natural gas-powered vehicles.”
Kelli Walsh, executive director of Greater Indiana Clean Cities Coalition, discussed efforts by her organization and others to secure more state and federal funds to help truck operators adopt alternative fueled vehicles. Walsh has helped companies and government agencies attain more than $14 million in federal and state aid to implement alternative fuels projects.
Andy Douglas, Kenworth Truck Company’s national sales manager for specialty markets, offered information on the different considerations and spec’ing choices fleets and truck operators must make before adopting natural gas as an alternative fuel.
Brian Houston, a business development manager for Clean Energy, the nation’s largest builder and operator of natural gas fueling stations, discussed recent efforts by his company and the industry to open more fueling stations on the East and West coasts as well as along major travel corridors.
