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Dual fuel upgrades on the rise for heavy trucks

GreenMan Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:GMTI) announced that its subsidiary, American Power Group Inc. (APG), has received a Vehicular Memorandum of Exemption from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It includes eleven initial Test Exemptions of testing and verification of APG’s unique, non-invasive, dual fuel upgrade system for aftermarket diesel truck and tractor engines.

For certain, trucks are larger, more numerous and more powerful than this old timer shown at the GM Heritage Center. They're also mostly diesel.

According to the GreeMan Tech News Release, APG’s dual fuel system converts diesel engines and generators to function more efficiently and at a lower operating cost by seamlessly displacing 40-70% of the normal diesel fuel consumption with CNG, LNG, or bio-methane. Net fuel cost savings is in the range of 25-35%.

Aside from the EPA exemption, two terms appear key in the news release: non-invasive and flexibility. According to the APG website, the APG system is non-invasive to the OEM engine and operates within all OEM performance controls, with the flexibility to return to 100% diesel operation at any time.

APG’s dual fuel conversion and emissions reduction systems are targeted to help users achieve their sustainability goals through lower carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter emissions. In addition, the introduction of natural gas through APG’s dual fuel system does not impact diesel engine performance, and will also assist in extending the engine’s oil life, because natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel compared to diesel.

The initial test exemptions will allow APG to gather critical engine performance and emission data on a pre-dual fuel and post-dual fuel basis to support EPA approval requirements and commence commercialization of their non-invasive dual fuel upgrade system in the United States.

Already, the company has been approached by over 70 companies operating diesel fleet ranging from 10 vehicles to over 10,000 vehicles in the refuse, route delivery, large and small fleet logistics, mining, and government diesel vehicular markets.

Perhaps T. Boone Pickens and his drive to displace oil-based fuels in trucks will have its way after all.

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