CHRYSLER CONVERTING TRUCK FLEET TO NATURAL GAS

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has converted its Detroit-based fleet of 179 trucks to natural gas.

The 179 leased Peterbilt tractors are fuelled with CNG at what the company is touting as the biggest private fast-fill CNG station in North America. The fast-fill pumps can fill a CNG tractor as quickly as a diesel-fuelled tractor, the company claims.

What’s really interesting is that Chrysler is choosing to convert to natural gas at a time when US diesel prices are at about $2.75/gallon.

“What people may not realize is that natural gas is also at historical lows,” FCA Transport head Martin DiFiore told Ron. “So let’s say diesel at a US price per gallon was $2.75. At that price point my payback will be just under a year.”

The conversion came at a cost of about $40 million. These CNG-fuelled trucks service Canadian locations as far from Detroit as Brampton. FCA hasn’t yet decided to convert its Canadian-domiciled trucks but I think the move is worth noting, especially if you count Chrysler among your customers as they are clearly taking a lead in converting to CNG for both economic and environmental reasons.

https://www.trucknews.com/features/chrysler-converting-truck-fleet-to-natural-gas/