The Alternative Clean Transportation Expo, the largest alternative fuel clean vehicle tech event in North America, will host more than 175 fueling, engine and technology suppliers as it opens today in Long Beach, Calif. Here are some of the early highlights.
Volvo Trucks will showcase a compressed natural gas-powered daycab (pictured) and a prototype of a dimethyl ether-powered VNL daycab at the expo. The CNG and DME-powered vehicles are part of Volvo Trucks' Blue Power natural gas strategy for North America. Volvo is working to commercialize DME-powered trucks for the North American market. The fuel mirrors the performance and energy efficiency of diesel and burns clean without producing soot, the company says.
Peterbilt Motors will display the newest vehicles in its lineup of natural gas-powered trucks. Both vehicles, which are powered by Cummins-Westport ISX12 G natural gas engines, were revealed in March at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Penske Truck Leasing, a joint venture between Penske Corp., Penske Automotive and General Electric Capital, will co-host a workshop with the EPA on the federal agency's SmartWay program. Attendants will learn details about how companies in the SmartWay program have succeeded.
An EPA and California Air Resources Board-certified Ford F-150, featuring Westport Innovations' power system, will debut at the expo. The Ford F-150 pickup truck runs on CNG and is available with a 17 gasoline-gallon equivalent, 23 or 27 tank.
Luxfer-GTM Technologies, a joint venture between Luxfer and GTM Technologies, will unveil two gas-storage products at the expo — a refueler for dispensing high-pressure CNG and a system for the storage and transportation of high-pressure gases, including compressed natural gas and hydrogen at pressures up to 5,000 psig.
Luxfer Gas Cylinders will introduce its line of Type 4 carbon composite alternative fuel cylinders designed to contain CNG. The G-Stor Go line features a range of cylinder sizes and capacities for medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicle fuel systems.
Trillium CNG will demonstrate its fast-fill hydraulic intensifier compressor at the Los Angeles Unified School District. The school district's station, the largest time-fill site in the country, was built by Trillium in 2001 and upgraded in 2010, the company says.
