Two new Freightliner Cascadia compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles were showcased for the first time at the 2018 ACT Expo Conference in Long Beach, California. The trucks further expand Daimler Trucks North America’s breadth of alternative fuel options.
One Cascadia CNG vehicle was developed in collaboration with UPS. The new Cascadia day cab is equipped with a Cummins Westport ISX12N Near Zero (NZ) NOx natural gas engine and Eaton Fuller Advantage Series Automated Manual transmission, which, when combined with the model’s sleek aerodynamic design, can result in fuel efficiency gains of up to 3% compared to similarly spec’d original Cascadia CNG truck models.
The ISX12N meets the California Air Resources Board Low NOx standard of 0.02g/bhb-hr, a 90% reduction from engines operating at current US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NOx limit of 0.2 g/bhb-hr.
“By partnering with companies like UPS to pilot innovations such as the new Cascadia CNG truck, we can continuously evaluate and enhance our products,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing, Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components. “Our proven experience in developing alternative fuel technologies for applications ranging from long hauls to vocational jobs demonstrates our commitment to environmentally sustainable solutions that increase productivity and efficiency for our customers.”
The DTNA booth at ACT Expo also featured a Freightliner M2 112 equipped with a Cummins Westport L9N Near Zero NOx natural gas engine and TYMCO sweeper, the propane-autogas S2G chassis from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, and the Thomas Built Buses (TBB) Saf-T-Liner C2 all-electric school bus. Referred to as Jouley, the C2 is the first electric bus from TBB. All products featured by DTNA at ACT Expo draw from parent company Daimler AG’s global expertise in alternative energy solutions.
Daimler’s commitment to green technologies is part of its global “Shaping Future Transportation” initiative. Launched in 2007, the initiative reduces criteria pollutants, carbon dioxide and fuel consumption through the use of clean, efficient drive systems, including clean diesel and alternative fuels.