Texas-based Peterbilt Motors Co., a major North American maker of trucks used in long-haul transportation fleets, said it is selling 180 liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled trucks to Canadian-based trucking company Robert Transport in Quebec. A Peterbilt spokesperson told NGI Tuesday that the company is pursuing a national market of LNG-fueled rigs.

Peterbilt is using the Westport HD natural gas fueling system consisting of a 15-liter engine, proprietary Westport fuel injectors, LNG fuel tanks with integrated cryogenic fuel pumps and various associated electronic components. The truck builder said Westport’s LNG fueling system meets 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Air Resources Board and North American emissions limits.

While Peterbilt is working with Westport in the development of the natural gas-fueled vehicles, it is not involved in the development of refueling sites and networks. The company leaves that to its customers and the natural gas transportation fuel sector, the spokesperson said. A major current market focus for Peterbilt are West Coast ports, such as the Long Beach and Los Angeles ports, which have initiatives to move away from diesel-fired transportation, he said.

In Canada, Robert Transport provides delivery throughout the supply chain for dry and frozen food products. It plans to deploy the LNG-fueled trucks in the its routes between Montreal and Quebec City, and Montreal and Toronto.

CEO Claude Robert said using natural gas-fueled trucks helps reduce one of its biggest costs — fuel — along with “reducing our carbon footprint. Our goal is to find alternatives to diesel and to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 20-25%.”

Natural gas-powered systems “complement” Peterbilt’s design objectives, while “significantly reducing” GHG emissions, said Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon Sproull. Peterbilt also deploys compressed natural gas in some of its trucks, again working with Westport Transport.

Peterbilt has been pursuing LNG-powered markets for about a year.

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