Cargotec, Helsinki, Finland, has delivered liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered terminal tractors that meet California's 2010 California Air Resources Board (CARB) standards for off-road vehicle emissions.
Twelve Kalmar Ottawa 4x2 terminal tractors powered by LNG have been delivered to California Cartage Co., a southern California import trucking and distribution company. Where some terminal operators have opted for California's emissions credit scheme to meet new restrictions, California Cartage has made a voluntary commitment to LNG, with 50 percent of its tractor fleet LNG-powered, supported by State of California funding.
The latest deliveries represent the first terminal tractors to feature the new L-Series engine from Cummins, specifically designed to meet new 2010 CARB standards on Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) emissions.
According to the engine manufacturer, PM emissions from LNG engines amount to 0.009 parts per million, compared to 0.01ppm from a standard diesel engine. L gas engines emit 0.1 ppm of NOx, compared to 0.13ppm by standard off-road diesel engines.
Casey Tubbert, Cargotec US regional manager, terminal tractors, said: "It is only a matter of time before terminal operators elsewhere are obliged to follow California's lead on cleaner container handling equipment. The additional cost of purchase and operation of diesel engines currently being built is making alternate fuels look more attractive. The initial investment of LNG machines as well as their fuelling station is significant, but the absence of diesel emission fluids and exhaust regeneration make day-to-day operations more attractive. Once the infrastructure is in place for these vehicles, we will see more and more companies looking into this technology."
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