Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc., a leader in clean transportation, unveiled its FUSO FE CNG concept truck developed with leading alternative fuels system provider Agility Fuel Solutions during the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California, today.
This truck represents a working collaboration of both companies, potentially providing a more environmentally friendly work truck option for the United States and Canada. More than 160,000 natural gas vehicles are operating in the U.S. According the U.S. Department of Energy, over 1,600 compressed natural gas fueling stations are available in the United States.
This fueling station network in major metropolitan regions and transportation corridors has increased the ability of medium duty truck operators to use CNG-powered trucks, especially in urban city environments. Operating CNG-powered trucks provides substantial environmental benefits when compared to more traditional truck powertrains.
The FE CNG will experience a 15- to 20-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more substantial reductions in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NOx). The CNG system on the FE CNG truck is certified to the California Air Resources Board's optional low NOx standard. Because CNG engines produce essentially no particulates, the aftertreatment system is a simple three-phase catalyst instead of the complex aftertreatment system found on all newer diesel trucks.
The truck produces no smell or smoke and is actually quieter than a diesel-powered truck, ideal for urban operations. Agility brings extensive experience in natural gas vehicles, having provided CNG cylinders or systems for more than 60,000 trucks and buses worldwide. On the FE GAS truck, Agility is providing a complete end-to-end CNG fuel system, including dual side-mounted CNG storage systems with 30 gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE) capacity, an integrated regulator assembly and a fuel fill panel, and a CARB and EPA-certified low-NOx natural gas fuel system for the GM Powertrain V8 6.0L engine that is standard on all FE GAS trucks. The FE CNG is estimated to have a driving range of 190 miles.
The FE GAS has been designed for easy integration into customers' fleet operations. The CNG fuel system drives the OEM fuel gauge, providing the driver with a familiar fuel level between empty and full, rather than a pressure value. Because the CNG system does not significantly increase the weight of the truck, the overall payload capacity for the FE CNG is not greatly impacted, allowing operators to continue to deliver roughly the same amount of goods compared to other powertrain models.
"Using Agility's experience in CNG will benefit our customers by enabling a reliable, integrated CNG-powered solution for our existing FUSO FE GAS truck models," said Jasmin Kluge, project manager for alternative fuels project, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. "The additional benefit is its total cost-of-ownership advantage: lower fuel cost, less maintenance, less emissions and less noise, making this a win-win for truck fleets' bottom line and environmental stewardship."
The FE CNG truck offers fleet operators potential operational savings and an attractive total cost of ownership. CNG fuel offers savings at the pump compared to gasoline and diesel. Further, because of the reduction of emissions control systems and other components, overall maintenance costs will be lower compared to a diesel truck. Scheduled maintenance and service work will be conducted or coordinated at any of the independent FUSO dealerships located across the United States and Canada. This adds a level of confidence to fleet customers wanting to know an established OEM backs their truck purchase.
"We are excited to work with FUSO to develop a CNG option for the FUSO's FE GAS platform," said Brad Garner, Agility's President - Powertrain Systems. "CNG is an excellent option for return-to-base and urban delivery fleets, with an attractive total cost of ownership."
This concept truck represents a collaboration project between FUSO and Agility. Further tests and market studies are underway to determine the next steps for this product—with a potential CNG aftermarket solution from Agility occurring by 2020.
