Shell Oil Co. has signed an agreement with Ryder System Inc. for 15 liquefied natural gas (LNG) heavy-duty vehicles supporting oil and gas logistics operations in Lafayette, La., and Houston.
The new 15 LNG-fueled vehicles will replace Ryder diesel-powered vehicles in Shell’s existing fleet and will be serviced out of Ryder’s Lafayette facility, which is being engineered to meet the unique compliance requirements for natural gas. As part of this initiative, Ryder has signed a five-year fuel agreement with Shell, which will provide LNG fuel for the dedicated natural gas fleet.
The Shell seaport and cross-state routes are applications ideally suited for natural gas vehicles. Ryder worked with Shell to develop a customized truck specification that was weight-sensitive to maximize freight revenue, while ensuring durability and operability in the field.
“We are excited to work with Ryder to transfer diesel vehicles to LNG. LNG can be a good choice for truck owners, and more are making the switch to LNG,” says Dan Flynn, Shell’s vice president of logistics. “It is great to see Ryder’s drive for Shell LNG, a clean-burning fuel that meets emissions regulations without the need for after-treatment systems used in diesel engines.”
Ryder has deployed compressed natural gas and LNG vehicles into the fleets of its customers in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Quebec.
The natural gas vehicles are being made available through Ryder’s participation in the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program, funded by the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan initiatives and administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
