Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), a manufacturer of motor vehicles for commercial, fire and emergency, and recreation markets, has announced an exclusive partnership with Westport.
The partnership expands the availability of the compressed natural gas (CNG) Westport WiNG Power System, which is currently offered as an option on ASV's Type A school buses manufactured by Collins Bus, to ASV's commercial bus, emergency and other vehicle products.
‘Our customers are demanding environmentally friendly vehicles powered by clean alternative fuel systems that reduce carbon emissions,’ says Tim Sullivan, ASV's president and CEO. ‘The ability to expand the availability of the Westport CNG system to other ASV vehicle lines not only demonstrates our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, but it also allows us to offer the first factory-certified OEM solution for one-stop installations of alternative fuel systems.’
According to the companies, the Westport WiNG Power System is a dedicated natural gas fuel system for light-duty specialty vehicles built on Ford truck chassis and backed by a Ford Factory three-year/36,000-mile engine and powertrain warranty. Westport, a Ford Qualified Vehicle Modifier, says it designed its system to meet Ford's original equipment manufacturing standards.
‘With the distinct price benefits of natural gas, we're excited to offer a CNG-powered product across multiple ASV vehicle platforms,’ comments Paul Shaffer, Westport Dallas vice president. ‘Historically, prices of alternative fuels, especially CNG, are more stable and generally lower than gas and diesel fuel prices that regularly fluctuate up and down, creating a strategic long-term budgeting advantage for fleet vehicle owners. And while global prices for gasoline and diesel fuels are low right now, there is still strong demand for vehicles with alternative fuel systems such as CNG.’
Westport WiNG Power Systems are primarily installed in Dallas. However, the partners say the systems will be transitioned to ASV factory-certified installations to increase vehicle manufacturing efficiency.
