Key facts
- Company
- Clean Energy Fuels
- New stations
- Grande Prairie, Alta., and Chilliwack, B.C.
- Canadian network stations
- Edmonton, Calgary, Kamloops, Grande Prairie, Chilliwack
- Engine
- Cummins X15N 15-liter natural gas engine
- Fuel cost advantage
- 40-50% less than diesel
- Fleets expanding
- Nortrans, Mullen, Caron, Integrity, GFL, Reimer, Trican, Prairie, Sniper, Environmental 360
Background
Clean Energy Fuels is expanding its compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling network in Western Canada as trucking, refuse and oilfield fleets add more natural gas-powered trucks equipped with Cummins’ X15N engine.
The company announced new fueling and maintenance agreements with fleets across British Columbia and Alberta while adding CNG stations in Grande Prairie, Alta., and Chilliwack, B.C., through its partnership with Tourmaline. The additions expand Clean Energy’s Canadian network to stations in Edmonton, Calgary, Kamloops, Grande Prairie and Chilliwack.
The company said growing interest in the Cummins X15N 15-liter natural gas engine is helping drive adoption among longhaul fleets.
Current situation
Among the fleets expanding their natural gas operations are: Nortrans Freight Management, which ordered five additional X15N-powered trucks after a successful trial; Mullen Dedicated Logistics, which plans to add seven X15N trucks; Caron Transportation Systems, which is adding five; and Integrity Waste Solutions, which is expanding its fleet with 10 additional natural gas trucks, including three powered by the X15N.
Other fleets announcing deployments include GFL Environmental (three trucks), Reimer Brothers (four), Trican Well Service (three), Prairie Waste Solutions (seven), Sniper Services (one tri-drive rated to haul up to 140,000 lb.) and Environmental 360, which is deploying 15 natural gas trucks in Chilliwack.
The company said the expanded fueling network supports linehaul, regional and return-to-base operations while helping fleets reduce emissions and lower fuel costs.
| Fleet | Number of trucks |
|---|---|
| Nortrans Freight Management | five additional |
| Mullen Dedicated Logistics | seven |
| Caron Transportation Systems | five |
| Integrity Waste Solutions | 10 additional (including three X15N) |
| GFL Environmental | three |
| Reimer Brothers | four |
| Trican Well Service | three |
| Prairie Waste Solutions | seven |
| Sniper Services | one tri-drive |
| Environmental 360 | 15 |
Impacts
The expansion of the CNG network and the adoption of natural gas trucks are expected to affect fleet operations across British Columbia and Alberta. Fleets that haul heavy loads and accumulate high annual mileage may benefit from lower fuel costs, as natural gas costs 40-50% less than diesel, according to Clean Energy.
The Cummins X15N engine is said to close the technology gap for fleets, providing performance and reliability comparable to diesel-powered equipment. This could influence fleet purchasing decisions and operational strategies in the region.
The new fueling stations in Grande Prairie and Chilliwack, along with existing stations, are intended to support various operational modes, including linehaul, regional, and return-to-base, potentially improving logistics efficiency for companies in the area.
Future outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the trend of fleet adoption continues, Clean Energy may further expand its Canadian network to meet growing demand. The company's partnership with Tourmaline could lead to additional stations in other strategic locations across Western Canada.
Should the Cummins X15N engine maintain its performance and cost advantages, more longhaul fleets could transition to natural gas, potentially increasing the demand for CNG infrastructure and fueling services.
However, the pace of adoption may depend on factors such as fuel price stability, infrastructure availability, and fleet operators' confidence in natural gas technology. If these conditions remain favorable, the expansion could accelerate; if not, growth may slow.
Source: trucknews.com
