Kenworth Truck Co. said it is expanding its line of green products by offering factory-installed, dual liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks on Kenworth 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. “This option doubles the operating range of a typical LNG-powered Kenworth T800 equipped with a single LNG tank, making the truck a better choice for long haulers with slip-seat or drop-and-hook operations and for regional haulers whose drivers travel long distances, but still return home at the end of their shifts.”
The Kenworth 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. available for certain applications. For the T800, the GX engine is available 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, according to Kenworth.
For the dual LNG tank configuration, Kenworth said it uses a Dewar flask (or cryogenic tank) system that is like 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 available on the Kenworth T800, equipped with a day cab or the Kenworth Extended Day Cab.
“By providing a dual LNG tank configuration, Kenworth is helping truck operators take full advantage of plans by major fuel providers to install a larger network of natural gas fueling stations across the U.S.,” Fennimore said. “With the addition of new fueling stations, more and more truck operators will be looking seriously at adding natural gas power as an alternative to diesel.”
Fennimore cautions that a dual tank configuration is not for everyone. “We suggest truck operators who are considering adopting natural gas take a closer look at their operations to determine if they truly need an additional tank,” he said. “If they have enough deliveries or payloads in the additional 200 to 300 miles to justify the added cost, then they should have their LNG-powered trucks equipped with the additional fuel tank.”
Since the dual tank configuration is only available with the Westport GX engine featuring Westport’s high-pressure direct injection technology, the truck also must have the space below the cab for the emission controls system, which can take an additional four to five feet of frame rail space. That means the dual tank configuration must be installed on a Kenworth T800 with a minimum 220-in. wheelbase, the truck maker added.
