General  What is the cost savings and payback time? Natural gas prices generally track below those of diesel fuel. The Westport HD System enables fleet operators to take full advantage of this price differential and deliver significant fuel cost savings. Additional cost savings depend largely on the extent of offset funding obtained and the fuel savings achieved for each customer. Fuel savings increase with higher fuel consumption applications (high annual mileage, heavy loading, etc.) and obviously with higher fuel price differentials to diesel.
The economics of LNG trucks are expected to improve over time. The incremental Westport HD System cost will be reduced with increasing sales volumes and the increasing cost of diesel engines with aftertreatment devices—a necessity for diesels to meet emissions regulations. In addition, fuel pricing is expected to decline as volumes grow for vehicular use. Westport HD Sales Representatives can work with potential customers to perform a detailed Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis, based on the particular metrics of their fleet. This will clearly lay out the economic potential of using Westport HD-equipped LNG trucks in their fleet. You may calculate approximate life-cycle costs with our online LCC tool. OperationIs there any driver training provided? Westport's driver training program is approximately three hours in duration. LNG refueling procedures are station specific, and this training must be offered in conjunction with station owner / operator. Westport can collaborate with station owner / operator on training if requested to do so.
Westport includes a 25 minute driver training DVD with each truck in English, Spanish, and French, or you can view the video on Westport's YouTube Channel, available in English, Spanish, and French. For driver safety procedures please refer to the Westport HD LNG System Operator's Manual, supplied with your vehicle. Refueling training is dependent of station and location for customers who plan to refuel on their own if no full service station is practical or available. Training is provided by the station operator and Westport can help organize if necessary. How far can I drive on a tank of LNG? The Westport HD engine is offered on trucks in North America with up to two LNG tanks and in Australia with up to three LNG tanks. Tanks are available in a "70 gal", "100 gal", and "120 gal" nominal size. On an energy equivalent basis, accounting for various performance factors such as the LNG tank useable volume, 10% maximum inclination, and assuming properties for diesel and natural gas, the Diesel Equivalent Volumes are shown in the table below relative to the LNG tank pressure.
In order to convert these diesel equivalent volumes to a vehicle range, multiply the values in the table by the fuel economy you achieve in your equivalent diesel powered truck. For example, if your equivalent diesel truck achieves a fuel economy of 6 miles per gallon on diesel, then an HD-powered vehicle equipped with a single “120 gal” LNG tank at a tank pressure of 100 psi could obtain 312 miles (502 km). Adding a second "120 gal" LNG tank would extend this vehicles range to (using the above assumptions) approximately 624 miles (~1,000 km). What happens if I run out of diesel fuel or natural gas? Simply put, if the vehicle runs out of natural gas, the engine will stop operating -- the same as if a diesel truck runs out of fuel.
The Westport HD engine (15 L) is a dedicated natural gas engine. While it does use both diesel and natural gas in combustion, the diesel is used only as the pilot fuel analogous to a “liquid spark plug”. Just before top dead centre, a small amount of diesel is injected directly into the combustion chamber to start ignition. Immediately following, a larger amount of natural gas is injected into the combustion chamber, providing the power. On average over all operating conditions, the engine uses approximately 5% diesel and 95% natural gas. If the engine runs out of natural gas it will switch to a “diesel only” operating mode. This mode is intended for service only, as the engine has very limited power and can only be run in this mode for a limited amount of time -- less than 10 minutes. After operating in this mode, service procedures may be necessary to prepare the engine for subsequent use. This mode is not intended to be used when the truck is under load or driven for long distances. The main intention of this mode is to provide a means to move the vehicle around a service facility or from the work area to the refuelling station after a service event where the LNG has been drained (e.g. after an LNG pump change or other maintenance item). FuelWhat is the price of LNG? Natural gas prices continue to track below those of diesel fuel. The average price for natural gas has been up to 25% less per gallon than diesel*. The Westport HD engine and fuel system enables fleet operators to take full advantage of this price differential and deliver significant fuel cost savings. An LNG operator can potentially realize a total tax advantage of over US$1.00 per diesel equivalent gallon.
Pricing of LNG depends on a number of factors, including location, quantity of fuel, and purchase options (fixed price, indexed price, spot price, etc.). The U.S. Energy Bill provides a US$0.69/diesel-equivalent gallon federal tax differential for LNG fuel over diesel. The California state taxes on fuel provide a US$0.23/DEG tax advantage for LNG, and also offers an "annual fee" decal option which reduces LNG tax further for higher fuel users. Current information indicates the typical tax savings for a truck operating 100,000 miles/yr at 6 mpg would be US$0.32/DEG with the decal purchase. In general, LNG is available at attractive prices on an energy-equivalent basis to diesel fuel and supports an economic incentive to offset the initial incremental capital cost of a Westport HD System. There are several fuel providers that provide pricing of LNG to fleets. * source: U.S. DOE Alternative Fuel Price Report, October 2006 Where can I buy fuel? Natural gas fueling infrastructure is the fastest growing amongst alternative fuels for transportation in North America. Contact a Westport HD Sales representative for options in your area.
How safe is LNG? Natural gas is one of the world's most abundant sources of primary energy and has been in use as a transportation fuel for more than 60 years. Today, with over 5.7 million vehicles operating worldwide on natural gas, it is among the safest of transportation fuels.
All trucks powered by Westport HD engines and fuel systems are equipped with gas detection systems. A display panel is located in the cab of the truck and indicates two levels of leaks: "Trace Leak" when measured gas concentration is greater than 20% of the lower explosive limit, and "Significant Leak" when measured gas concentration is greater than 50% of lower explosive limit. An audible alarm also sounds for "Significant Leak". The display also indicates if a sensor circuit is not working properly. Each truck has two sensors: one in the engine bay and one in the cab. The system display will also alert the driver as to which zone the leak was located. For driver safety procedures please refer to the Westport HD LNG System Operator's Manual, supplied with your vehicle. What safety requirements do the truck-mounted LNG tanks meet? The LNG tanks used on Westport HD equipped trucks are a unique design specifically for LNG storage in the harsh environment of Class 8 Heavy Duty trucks. The tanks are designed, fabricated, inspected, and tested to meet various standards including:
These standards govern the strength and durability of the tank in extreme conditions to ensure the safety of people and the environment. For example, following SAE J2343, the tanks are designed and tested to withstand 10 ft and 30 ft drop tests, landing directly on the ends of the tank without compromising tank integrity and exposing the fluid contents to the environment. Also according to SAE J2343, a fire / heat test is conducted where the LNG tank is exposed to direct flames and high temperatures to ensure the design does not relieve any contents within the 20-minute time requirement. The tanks are designed to minimize heat transfer to the inner vessel contents and incorporate a redundant two level pressure relief valve strategy, which relieves the internal tank pressure in a controlled and safe manner in the event of abnormal tank pressure increase. What are the fuel quality requirements? The Westport HD System is certified for operation with California Air Resources Board (CARB) specification natural gas. The primary requirements on natural gas composition are as follows:
In addition to the above fuel composition specification, the fuel’s Wobbe Index needs to be between 44.5 and 47.15 MJ/m3 based on the Lower Heating Value. Westport recognizes that LNG composition will vary depending on the source and supply method. If your fuel does not meet the above specification, contact Westport to discuss. Is your engine compatible with biomethane, or renewable natural gas? The Westport HD engine can operate on LNG from a number of sources including biomethane, or renewable natural gas (RNG), from biogas sources such as Municipal solid waste. This biogas must be first cleaned to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce high-purity natural gas (methane) suitable for vehicles before being liquefied to LNG.
Are there concerns about sulfur oxides, ammonia, mercury and dioxins in the exhaust of natural gas engines? Those emissions are not regulated emissions by the EPA in its Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks category.
Diesel trucks are required to use ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD) which has a sulphur content of less than 15 ppm. Although the emissions recorded during certification testing of diesel trucks do not measure sulphur oxides, a Westport HD equipped truck would have less sulphur dioxide emissions then the equivalent diesel engine due to the fact that liquefied natural gas (LNG) does not contain sulphur. Mercury is not present in diesel fuel, LNG fuel, nor in any of the exhaust aftertreatment devices and therefore Mercury emissions are not expected from a Westport HD equipped truck or an equivalent diesel truck. Ammonia is used in the exhaust aftertreatment, specifically the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst to reduce oxide of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. During this process, unreacted ammonia can be released (referred to as ammonia slip). This ammonia is prevented from leaving the aftertreatment system through an additional oxidation catalyst (slip catalyst). Westport has measured the emissions of the HD engine and found the ammonia levels were 0 ppm (lower than measurable). It is expected the equivalent diesel engine would be the same, with zero ammonia emissions. There has been public concern regarding the creation of dioxins in diesel engines, specifically in the SCR aftertreatment. Cummins has tested the SCR aftertreatment system on the ISX engine proving to the EPA that the SCR system is not creating or releasing dioxins. The Westport HD engine uses the same aftertreatment as the Cummins ISX, and therefore the same conclusion can be drawn that dioxins emissions are not measurable. Service and SupportWho can upfit, repair, or maintain Westport HD System trucks? The Westport HD engine is only available through factory OEMs. Currently Peterbilt and Kenworth offer truck models equipped with the Westport HD engine in North America, and Kenworth offers LNG truck models in Australia.
Westport has partnered with select Cummins, Kenworth and Peterbilt repair shops to establish an LNG System service network in the Los Angeles area, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Connecticut, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Service partnerships in other regions will be established as customer demand dictates. Westport's team of service experts provide support to authorized Westport HD service repair facilities for warranty repairs on the Westport HD engine and LNG system. Customers are encouraged to contact Westport HD Service for more details to locate an authorized service facility in their area. Westport provides training to customer repair technicians for certain regularly scheduled maintenance repairs, and provides local part stocking for Westport HD System components. Customers have the option of purchasing maintenance items to stock at their own facility, after having received training for basic maintenance procedures. How do the maintenance intervals compare to diesel trucks? Maintenance of the Westport HD System coincides with regularly scheduled vehicle and engine maintenance intervals. For a typical maintenance schedule, see the Westport HD Engine Specifications page.
Purchasing & SalesWhat incentives are available to offset costs? The U.S. Highways Bill offers tax credits on qualified alternative fuel vehicles. Other state or regional government agencies and natural gas companies may offer additional incentives for the specific regional application. For example, the Port of Los Angeles has an incentive program to encourage early adoption of clean LNG vehicles in the port.
For more information: How much does a Westport HD System truck cost? The cost of a new truck featuring the Wesptort HD engine and fuel system is dependent on specifications required for operating characteristics. Please contact a Westport Sales representative for details.
How do I order an Westport HD System truck? Please contact a Westport Sales representative for details.
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