Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 25, 2011 at 10:08

PG, heavy duty trucks cannot utilize CNG for long haul service.  They would need access to LNG instead.

 

By the way, it will probably also take some government subsidies to help foot the cost of replacing all those diesel trucks.

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Permalink Reply by The_Baron on January 25, 2011 at 10:49

heavy duty trucks cannot utilize CNG for long haul service.  They would need access to LNG instead.

 

Not so. 

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 25, 2011 at 13:22

Okay, so where is the rest of the answer.

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Permalink Reply by adubu on January 25, 2011 at 11:31

Les B--- where you get data that diesel trucks would require LNG??????? If that where true how is it possible to refuel on road??????

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 25, 2011 at 13:21

Adubu, that is the reason you have only seen return to base operations.  Because a network of LNG refuelling stations is required along key transport corridors.  Eventually maybe we will see such infrastructure built.

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Permalink Reply by essay on January 25, 2011 at 14:32

I believe Les is driving at the energy density issue, for a truly "long-haul" service with vehicles getting only a few miles to the GGE equivalent, to work with CNG you'd need enormous fuel tanks, likely too large to be practicable.  Read that somewhere.  YMMV.  /grin

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 25, 2011 at 16:29

Essay, thanks - I was in a hurry and couldn't provide a longer response.

 

LNG has ~ three times the energy density of CNG and diesel has an energy density 63% higher than LNG.  It is hard enough to get big trucks to consider LNG and there is no way they would go for CNG.  Even trash trucks want LNG because they can run all day on one fill-up.  With CNG they would have to return to base in the middle of the day for a refill.

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Permalink Reply by awharris on January 26, 2011 at 11:19

True about the energy density of LNG -vs- CNG but CNG can be a huge money-saver for medium to long haul vehicles anyway. CNG and gasoline (or diesel) can be used in a BI-Fuel capacity just by flipping a switch. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-fuel_vehicle

You get the best of both worlds...low cost for a majority of your journey and the ability to go longer distances if needed.

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Permalink Reply by Les Bamburg on January 26, 2011 at 11:28

AWH, if you notice the article only discusses light duty vehicles and specifically mentions that it primarily addresses local use such as taxicabs, etc.  So this is not relevant to long haul heavy duty trucks that require the higher energy density of LNG. 

Permalink Reply by essay on January 25, 2011 at 6:36

we're headed south despite continued cold forecasts, some said it was going to $5 but now are calling for a correction back to around $4

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Permalink Reply by P.G. on January 25, 2011 at 7:49

I'm surprised China hasn't jumped in and promoted CNG for fuel here in this country. Think of all the cars they could make and sell here and with us using less petroleum because of it, it would lower the prices they have to pay for it...

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