For the first five months of 2022, US and Canadian Class 8 natural gas truck retail sales rose 11% year-to-date against comparisons of the same time period in 2021, as published in the quarterly report (AFQ: Alternative Fuels Quarterly) recently released by ACT Research.
“Sales of NG-powered vehicles as reported by the six major truck OEMs, who account for approximately 60% of the heavy-duty natural gas market, were mixed in the March to May time period, with March dipping 3% year-over-year, April surging 23% compared to last April, and May flat versus a year ago,” said Steve Tam, vice president, ACT Research. “In the near term, after a near doubling from February to March (+96%), April and May dribbled lower, -16% and -1%, respectively. Combined, sales in the three-month period extended, but decreased the year-to-date gain, with the first five months of the year outpacing the same period in 2021 by 11%.”
The ACT Alternative Fuels Quarterly (AFQ) provides insight, analysis, and trends about alternative fuel/power adoption for the US heavy and medium duty commercial vehicle markets. It is designed to give quick insights to anyone with an interest in the evolution of power and alternative fuel use for heavy vehicles. The AFQ details such adoption considerations as fuel prices, fuel/charging infrastructure development, equipment prices/products/technological developments, and regulatory changes. NG truck sales data and a forecast for new natural gas adoption are included.
“Besides sales, the Alternative Fuels Quarterly analyzes the change in existing and planned alternative fuel/power infrastructure and equipment developments,” Tam said. “We’re seeing an overall increase in electric charging stations, both existing and planned, but a continuing decline of total natural gas stations, particularly those planned for the future.
“That said, we still see articles about natural gas use in transportation, as well as discussions about hydrogen fuel cells and investments, but the overwhelming amount of trade-industry headlines continues to focus on electric commercial vehicle development.”
