Canada-based carrier Bison Transport is working with Shell Canada Products to deploy 15 heavy-duty trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Alberta. Peterbilt will begin supplying the tractors – which will feature natural gas engines from Westport HD – this month, and the full fleet will be up and running in January 2013.
Bison's five-year LNG supply agreement with Shell is the ‘first of its kind in Canada,’ the companies say. The trucks will refuel at public-access Shell LNG facilities in Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer that are co-located with Flying J travel centers.
‘We are very pleased to be working with Shell on this leading-edge initiative that stands to transform the commercial freight and fuel industries in North America,’ says Trevor Fridfinnson, vice president of western operations with Bison. ‘Proving that this alternative fuel source can be economically and practically viable is our objective.’
For its part, Shell stated its belief that ‘LNG refueling infrastructure will support an increasing number of commercial fleets.’ To that end, the company is working on a natural gas liquefaction plant located near Calgary to support the LNG-for-transportation market.
