California-based Omnitek Engineering Corp. has been selected for a city of Little Rock, Arkansas pilot program intended to demonstrate the economic benefits and environmental effectiveness of the company’s EPA-approved diesel-to natural gas engine conversion technology for the Navistar DT466E heavy-duty truck engines utilized by the city’s municipal truck fleet.
Omnitek Engineering anticipates delivering favorable results during the evaluation period, with expectations for an enlarged project during the next one-and- a-half to two-year period. Additional terms were not disclosed.
“Arkansas is committed to supporting technologies that reduce environmental pollution and utilize inexpensive natural gas, and we are gratified to have been selected. This project is an opportunity to further showcase and demonstrate the economical and effective utilization of the company’s diesel-to-natural gas engine conversion technology. We look forward to working with the city of Little Rock and associated state officials,” said Werner Funk, president and chief executive officer of Omnitek Engineering Corp.
Funk noted that the converted natural gas trucks will utilize Little Rock’s new CNG fueling station resulting in an estimated savings to the city of $2.50-$3.00 per gallon equivalent compared with the retail price of diesel fuel.
“Replacing aging diesel engines with cleaner burning engines helps cut harmful emissions and, ultimately, improves air quality,” said Mike Bates, chief of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Air Division.
“These compounds [nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons] can cause serious health concerns especially for children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems. Nationally, these emissions are linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost work days and countless other health impacts every year,” Bates added.
(Source: Omnitek Engineering Corp.)
