Daimler's Freightliner truck division is expanding its natural gas offerings with a new Business Class M2 112 NG chassis. The first five chassis are being delivered to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles where they will be used in the drayage fleet. The trucks are powered by Cummins Westport 8.9-liter engines which should provide cleaner emissions than the diesels traditionally used in these applications. Natural gas engines are well suited to applications such as moving cargo around in a port because the trucks stay fairly close to base. As a result, a fueling system can be installed at the depot to service the whole fleet. The Mt. Holly, North Carolina Freightliner plant will produce another 25 natural gas trucks in September to add to the LA port fleet.
[Source: Daimler]
PRESS RELEASE:
Daimler Trucks North America Introduces Another Truck with Natural Gas Drive System
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has introduced another natural gas-powered truck, the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG. In the mid of July, the first five tractors were delivered to various licensed motor carriers for utilization in drayage fleets in the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
The delivery of the extremely low-emission trucks is an important step in California's publicly supported Clean Truck Program, which is intended to remove older trucks with high emissions levels in ports such those at Los Angeles and Long Beach. The deployment of the environmentally friendly trucks will quickly improve air quality at the ports, while also ensuring compliance with stringent emission standards and setting new benchmarks in harbor drayage.
Natural gas offers also economical benefits. The natural gas technology can save an estimated $6,000 (about €4,300) in annual fuel and operating costs per truck. In addition to port operations, the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG is also ideally suited for utilities and municipalities. "The Freightliner Business Class M2 112 is a versatile and hard-working truck, and adding a natural gas option further enhances its efficiency," says Melissa Clausen, Director of Product Marketing for the Freightliner brand. "Natural gas technology in commercial vehicles has come a long way and been very successful. Buses have been using it for years, but the next generation of natural gas drive systems have more power because less air is needed for combustion," says Clausen. "The technology simply burns cleaner."
The 8.9-liter engine is supplied by Cummins Westport, a manufacturer of alternative-fuel engines based in Vancouver, Canada. The cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine offers the lowest emissions available in the industry without sacrificing top-level performance and efficiency. "By launching the new Freightliner Business Class M2 112 NG, DTNA will be able to provide customers with clean, economical gas power for a wide range of applications," says Roe East, President of Cummins Westport, who is delighted about the collaboration with DTNA.
An additional 25 vehicles are scheduled to roll off the line of the DTNA plant in Mt. Holly, North Carolina, in September. These tractors will also be delivered to Los Angeles for deployment in drayage fleets.
"As part of the Shaping Future Transportation initiative, we will continue to develop and offer reliable trucks with both economic and environmental benefits," says Clausen. With the Shaping Future Transportation initiative for commercial vehicles, Daimler's objective is to use clean and efficient drive systems along with alternative fuels to realize zero-emission commercial vehicles for tomorrow's transportation needs. The initiative includes using resources sparingly and reducing emissions of every kind while at the same time guaranteeing maximum traffic safety.
Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and is the leading heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America.
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