Wettenhalls turns to LNG to reduce the company's environmental impact
May 12, 2010
Transport and Logistics specialist the Wettenhalls Group has switched to liquefied natural gas with the purchase of a Kenworth K108 prime mover fitted with a Westport gas engine.
The prime mover will carry freight for dairy food company Fonterra from Victoria’s western district to Melbourne.
The engine is the latest Westport high pressure direct injection GX 15-litre engine.
It produces around 25 percent fewer emissions than the equivalent diesel-powered Cummins ISX-EGR engine with no performance loss.
The truck will use Evol LNG’s new refuelling facility at Deer Park in Melbourne. Evol also provided operator and workshop training, technical support and company and driver information sessions.
Wettenhall Group Business Development Manager Chris Garschagen says the company decided to trial LNG to reduce the environmental impact of its truck fleet.
“Our new LNG vehicle is a highly visible display of our determination to reduce carbon emissions; this is a goal that is important to both the Wettenhalls Group and our customer Fonterra,” Garschagen says.
Wettenhalls Operational Development Manager Steve Biggs says the company did plenty of research before deciding to trial prime mover, but expects the company might have 60 LNG-powered trucks in its fleet within 10 years.
“This is our first major investment in reducing the carbon emissions from our vehicle fleet,” he says.