Full Speed Ahead: Part 3 in Our Natural Gas Series
This is the third of three blog posts providing a 360-degree view of the trends, challenges and advances impacting the adoption of natural gas fleets. In this post, David Mazaika – Executive Director Strategic Development for Quantum Technologies, profiles the advances fueling natural gas adoption and why this exciting alternative fuel makes more sense every day.
In my previous two posts we explored the trends and challenges impacting natural gas adoption. Despite the
While there are challenges, three advances are making natural gas transportation increasingly attractive for more fleet owners and operators.
Top Three Advances Fueling the Move to Natural Gas Fleets
- Improved vehicle and engine reliability
If a truck can’t deliver its load on time, it doesn’t matter how economical it is to operate. Hence, in a historically risk-averse business, fleet owners/operators have been reluctant to adopt any technology that might compromise that goal.The challenge for natural gas has been proving its reliability. However, with recent improvements in vehicle and engine reliability, success stories are getting more common. As word spreads, the adoption rate is picking up speed. Fleet operators are realizing the true savings potential of natural gas. As they do, they’re expanding their Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fleets (average payback: about two years). - Better fuel economy
In recent years, engine and truck manufacturers have gone the distance to improve every aspect of natural gas vehicle design. Today’s vehicles feature more aerodynamic designs, low-rolling tires, and air dams under trailers to help air move in a more streamlined fashion. They also have highly optimized engine and transmission interfaces to achieve better shift points and fuel economy. These improvements, together with streamlined CNG fuel systems, enable natural gas vehicles to get much better fuel economy. - Lower costs thanks to fuel tank/storage system innovation
Recent advances in CNG fuel tank storage systems have made the systems lighter in weight, yet capable of storing more fuel. The improved efficiency of CNG fuel tank systems, together with expanded fuel station availability, means that you can purchase smaller and less expensive CNG storage systems. This, in turn, helps accelerate return on investment and logistics flexibility.
If you have not yet, we welcome you to check out our white paper on Natural Gas Fleets and the Quantum and Ryder partnership helping to develop this technology further by clicking on the button below.
David Mazaika is Executive Director, Strategic Development at Quantum Technologies. He is a transportation professional with more than 20 years of experience in alternative fuels and hybrid powertrains for heavy-duty buses and trucks. Throughout his career, Mr. Mazaika has played an active role in advancing the heavy-duty vehicle industry and bringing practical, cost saving technologies to market.