Compressed Natural Gas

(CNG) Fuel Use in Refuse

Collection Vehicles

        

Industry White Paper Highlights

November 2008

Prepared by
 
 
 CNG Fuel Use in Refuse Collection Vehicles

About WIH Resource Group

WIH Resource Group is a global leader and provider of comprehensive waste management, recycling
and business solutions, specializing in, among other services, waste management operational
performance assessments, transportation / logistics, alternative fuel use, solid waste planning, waste
and recycling market studies and environmental services. Based in Phoenix, the company serves
municipalities, commercial / industrial and both private and public sector clients throughout North
America.

About the White Paper

The White Paper is developed by WIH Resource Group (WIH) and was created from industry research
and analysis of the current use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in refuse (municipal solid waste –
MSW) collection vehicles by both public sector agencies and private sector service providers
throughout the United States. The waste management industry’s interest in this information is to
assess the potential for utilizing CNG fueled refuse collection vehicles in their own organizations or
subcontracted solid waste and recycling collection vehicles and operations.

The surveys and interviews conducted by WIH’s Staff with various cities and other private sector
companies that currently utilize and operate CNG fleets, centered on securing industry experience,
data and knowledge on the following key items of interest to the waste management industry, both
public and private sectors:

• CNG Engine reliability;

• Optimal CNG engine type (manufacturer)
• Average age of CNG fueled fleets & life expectancy of CNG fueled fleets;
• Average R&M and operational costs of CNG fueled fleets;
• Determination of the overall reliability of CNG fueling systems;
• Assessment of the legal payload impacts, i.e. contrasting standard diesel collection
vehicle payloads to that of CNG fueled trucks (CNG fueled vehicles have heavier tare
weights due to the need for larger fuel tanks), including transportation routing cost
impacts to and from disposal sites;
• Review of the available grant funding from the State, EPA and Federal agencies to
assist in capital costs of fleet acquisition and ongoing operating costs;
• Assessment of the effects of CNG fuels and fueling in cold winter climates and elevation
changes which require full trucks to transport up inclines.

Summary of Table of Contents

The White Paper is organized into five sections, plus Appendices. The sections of the White Paper are
listed below.

„ Section 1 – Introduction and Project Approach

„ Section 2 – Refuse Collection Vehicles
„ Section 3 – Industry Research and Interviews
„ Section 4 – Natural Gas and Compressed Natural Gas
„ Section 5 - Evaluation of Key Issues and Recommendations
„ Appendices

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White Paper Highlights by Section

Section One
In August 2008, a U.S. City’s Public Works Department, Solid Waste Programs Division, retained the
services of WIH Resource Group (WIH) to assist their jurisdiction in researching the use of
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fuel as an alternative to traditional diesel fuel in its contracted
residential refuse and recycling collection vehicles currently operated under contract by private third
party solid waste and recycling collections service provider.

Section Two
In the United States approximately 155,000 refuse trucks operate and burn approximately 1.2 billion
gallons of diesel fuel a year, releasing almost 27 billion pounds of the greenhouse gas, CO2. Every
gallon of diesel fuel burnt emits more than 22 pounds of CO2. In addition to contributing to global
climate change, diesel-fueled trash trucks are one of the most concentrated sources of health-
threatening air pollution in virtually all cities.

Section Three
CNG is natural gas that has been compressed into a high-pressure container for transportation. Since
the 1960s, CNG has become a vehicle fuel alternative to oil-based gasoline and diesel fuel. The
International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles estimates that more than one million vehicles
worldwide operate on CNG.

In the United States more than 1,300 CNG refueling stations are available. The total includes public
service stations and private depot-based refueling stations intended to serve fleets. Several companies
provide CNG/LNG refueling infrastructure to fleets on a component or turnkey basis.

Section Four
„ The WIH Resource Group project team conducted a series of interviews and meetings with
individuals that are subject matter experts (SMEs) from public agencies, private sector solid
waste collection companies and CNG industry suppliers of both fuel and engines.
„ The average price of natural gas is up to $1.00 less per diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) and
refuse truck operators can get fixed-price, multi-year natural gas fueling contracts from CNG
and NG fuel suppliers like Clean Energy.
„ The use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel helps reduce U.S. dependence on foreign crude oil. In
2005, 64% of the crude oil used in the United States was imported from foreign sources other
than Canada. By comparison, in 2005, an estimated 97% of the natural gas used in the United
States was supplied from the United States and Canada, making it less vulnerable to foreign
supply disruption and price volatility.
„ Prior to the interviews, each organization was provided a list of the issues that it would be asked
about in its interview. A list of the issues that were discussed during these interviews is provided
in Table 1.

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Table 1 - Private Sector Companies and Public Agencies Interview Questions

Issue
1. CNG Engine Reliability Compared to Diesel Engines
2. Optimal Engine Manufacturer
3. Average Age of CNG & Life Expectancy
4. Average R&M and operational costs of CNG fueled fleets
5. Overall Reliability of CNG Fueling Systems
6. Legal Payload Impacts – CNG verses Diesel-powered vehicles
7. Grant Funding and Tax incentives
8. Effects of CNG fuels and fueling in cold weather climates and elevation changes

Section Five
The CNG market is more stable than the gasoline market. CNG generally costs 15 to 40 percent less
than gasoline or diesel. CNG requires more frequent refueling, however, because it contains only about
a quarter of the energy by volume of gasoline. In addition, CNG vehicles cost between $1,500 and
$3,500 annually more than their diesel-powered counterparts. This is primarily due to the higher cost of
the fuel cylinders. As the popularity and production of CNG fuel refuse collection vehicles continues to
increases, CNG vehicle costs are decreasing.

Once new natural gas trucks are in service, their operators stand to save money. Not only has the price
of natural gas been significantly lower than that of diesel fuel for many years (approximately $.50 per
diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) cheaper), but an excise tax credit available under the Energy Policy Act
(2005) has made this fuel an even better bargain. Estimated savings for new 20 compressed natural
gas trucks for the City’s Solid Waste Division is contemplating purchasing, may produce fuel savings of
more than $157,894 per year over diesel fuel.

Appendices
Appendix A – Public and Private Sector Interviews
Appendix B – Federal Tax Credit Fact Sheet
Appendix C – Cummins Westport, Inc. ISL-G Engine Specifications
Appendix D – Natural Gas Vehicles in the World 2007
Appendix E – U.S. Natural Gas Distribution Pipeline Network
Appendix F – Alternative Fuel Resources
Appendix G – Cummins Westport Press Release – Tax Credits

Copyright 2008, WIH Resource Group, LLC. All rights reserved.

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