Clean Energy Fuels Corp. says it added 22 natural gas refueling stations to its ‘America's Natural Gas Highway’ network between November 2012 and the end of January, as well as signed dozens of new compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel and service agreements with fleets in the refuse, transit and other sectors.
The latest installment of Clean Energy's ‘The Road to Natural Gas’ report also points to new relationships with partners such as Suhaan Group, Petroleum Wholesale and Road Ranger for the co-location of natural gas refueling infrastructure at existing truck stops, gas stations and convenience stores.
‘This year is already shaping up to surpass 2012 in the drive towards natural gas,’ said Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy's CEO and president. ‘We are seeing significant interest and movement by the long-haul trucking industry to make the switch to natural gas. I'm also pleased by Clean Energy's growth in our core businesses of refuse, transit and airports, with a total of 127 new station projects completed in 2012 – an 87 percent increase in overall station construction over 2011.’
Since early November, 455 new CNG refuse trucks were delivered to Clean Energy's 101 refuse customers, and another 567 additional CNG vehicles were ordered. The New York City Department of Sanitation, the City of Los Angeles and the City of Tampa, Fla., represent major customers in this vertical.
In the transit space, the City of Torrance, Calif., is working with Clean Energy to develop a private CNG fueling facility that will accommodate up to 70 buses. Also, contracts with Veolia Transportation and MV Transportation will create CNG refueling for 150 Los Angeles Department of Transportation buses. Clean Energy's reach into the shuttle and taxi sector is also growing, with California-based Super Shuttle recently deciding to expand its CNG fleet by over 100 new vans, and the City of Chicago adding more than 63 CNG taxis and para-transit vehicles to its fleet.
Similar growth is being seen in the trucking sector, with liquefied natural gas becoming an increasingly viable option. For example, UPS has expanded its LNG fleet to 70 units, 99 Cent Stores added 13 LNG trucks to its Southern California fleet, and Land O'Lakes recently put eight LNG trucks on the road in California.
