Quebec-based Gaz Metro, one of Canada's largest natural gas companies, has taken to the news wires to tout the company's efforts in promoting the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in transportation applications – particularly within the heavy-duty sector.
For instance, the company's Gaz Metro Transport Solutions LP (GMTS) subsidiary currently owns and operates three natural gas refueling sites. Two are located in Quebec and mainly serve the heavy-duty trucking fleet of Robert Transport, which has a large complement of Peterbilt LNG tractors that feature the 15-liter ISX G from Westport HD. A third GMTS refueling station is located near Mississauga, Ontario.
Heavy-duty fleet Transport YN Gonthier also operates LNG trucks, as does Camions Excellence Peterbilt Inc., which rents an LNG-fueled tractor to fleet operators. Both of these companies use GMTS' natural gas refueling facilities. GMTS says it is ‘in talks with several carriers interested in ordering LNG trucks in the coming months.’
GMTS is also supporting the high-horsepower sector, such as the alt-fuel initiative of Société des traversiers du Québec's (STQ), which will soon deploy three LNG-powered ferries. GMTS is also supplying LNG as part of a project to develop an LNG-powered locomotive, in collaboration with Westport Innovations, CN and Electro-Motive Diesel Inc. (EMD).
Plans call for GMTS to develop a series of public-access natural gas stations that will complement the existing private network. The first public stations, located in Rivière-du-Loup, Lévis and Cornwall, are scheduled to come online by the end of this year, the company says. After that, one station east of Toronto and another south of Montreal will be built.
