The reality of commercial trucks running on clean energy advanced this week with a partnership between Navistar International Corp. and Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
Navistar, a leading truck manufacturer, will offer a wide range of vehicles that run on compressed natural gas. Clean Energy Fuels, owned by energy magnate T. Boone Pickens, has committed to establishing 150 CNG fueling stations across the country. They will have 70 stations opened this year.
“Natural gas has clearly emerged as the most realistic alternative fuel option for the trucking industry,” said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO. “Together, Navistar and Clean Energy have come up with a breakthrough program that offers customers a quicker payback on their investment plus added fuel costs savings from day one of operation. When combined with Navistar’s industry-leading dealer network and Clean Energy’s unmatched fuel distribution system, customers can be confident that bringing natural gas vehicles into their fleets makes good business sense.”
This announcement comes at a time when gas and diesel prices are rising. A new, cleaner alternative will bring competition to the fuel marketplace while reducing emissions. What do you think about this new partnership and how it will change the trucking industry?
