Kenworth offers dual LNG tanks on T800s

Sept. 1, 2012
Kenworth Truck Company is expanding its line of green products by offering factory-installed, dual liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks on T800s powered

Kenworth Truck Company is expanding its line of green products by offering factory-installed, dual liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks on T800s powered by the 15-liter Westport GX engine.

“By equipping a Kenworth T800 with dual LNG fuel tanks, operators now have the option of running the truck up to 700 miles on a single fueling,” said Alan Fennimore, Kenworth's vocational marketing manager.

The T800, when equipped with the Westport GX, can be ordered in a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 80,000 lbs for over-the-road operation, with additional ratings exceeding 100,000 lbs for certain applications. For the T800, the GX engine is offered in power ratings from 400 to 475 hp and torque ratings from 1,450 to 1,750 ft-lb, giving it similar horsepower and torque ratings to its diesel engine counterparts.

For the dual LNG tank configuration, Kenworth uses a Dewar flask (or cryogenic tank) system that resembles a large Thermos bottle inside a metal cylinder. Each LNG fuel tank, which is designed to keep the fuel in its liquid state at -260° F, can hold up to 60 diesel gallon equivalents (DGE) of fuel. The dual LNG tank configuration is only offered on the T800, equipped with a day cab or Extended Day Cab.

Over the next two to three years, Chesapeake Energy plans to work with Clean Energy Fuels to install 150 LNG publicly accessible fueling stations for heavy-duty trucks along major Interstate highway corridors. Engine manufacturer Westport Innovations and Shell in 2011 announced the launch of a co-marketing program in North America aimed at providing a better economic case for adopting natural gas-powered vehicles by addressing fuel supply and customer support.

UPS already operates a number of LNG-powered Kenworth trucks along the Salt Lake City UT to Las Vegas NV corridor, and UPS along with C R England operates LNG-powered trucks from Southern California to Las Vegas.

Since the dual tank configuration is only available with the Westport GX engine featuring Westport's high-pressure direct injection technology, the truck must also have the space below the cab for the emission controls system, which can take an additional 4 to 5 feet of frame rail space. That means the dual tank configuration must be installed on a T800 with a minimum 220-inch wheelbase.

For additional information, visit the specification guide at www.kenworth.com/news/news-releases/2011/december/kenworth-truck-company-offers-advice-on-specing-for-natural-gas-power.aspx.