Westport Launches New Stocking Program to Cut Customer Wait Times

Westport is launching a new stocking program that will see its natural gas vehicles available at select Ford dealerships across the United States. In Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Florida participating dealerships will be stocking a wide range of bi-fuel and dedicated Westport WiNG™ Power System compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles including the Ford F-150, F-250, the all-new Transit Van and the F-59.

“This is a game-changer,” says Paul Shaffer, Westport Dallas vice president and managing director. “The wait time will be cut to as little as a couple of days from placement of order to receipt of vehicle. This allows fleets to take advantage of the benefits of CNG that much quicker.”

Covering Ground - Noble Energy’s NGVs

A day in the life of a bi-fuel pickup truck in Noble Energy’s fleet includes driving around 100 square miles (160 kms) – 1,800 miles (2900 kms) a month on average – in the resource-rich Denver-Julesburg Basin, east of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Noble Energy’s fleet of over 100 natural gas trucks comprises roughly 10 per cent of its total U.S. fleet of about 700, mostly light-duty trucks. 

The company began purchasing alternative fuel, light duty vehicles in 2009 and 2010. Bobby Randolph, a Senior Purchasing Agent with Noble, says the number of public stations – where Noble’s fleet fills up - has been steadily growing in Colorado.

“Colorado has expanded its network quite a bit and it’s helped with the logistics of fuelling our fleet,” he says. “We still need more [stations], but it’s helping us out a lot.”

Westport WiNG™ Power System F-250 and F-350 Receive CARB Certification

Westport has received certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its 2015 model year Westport WiNG™ Power System Ford F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks with the dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) system. Westport is the only natural gas system provider that also currently offers a CARB certified dedicated Ford F-150 truck in the market. CARB certified vehicles meet all applicable California emission regulations.

So You’re EPA & CARB Certified, So What?

Last week Westport announced it received certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its 2014 model year Westport WiNG™ Power System Ford F-150 pickup truck, with the dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) system. Westport is the only natural gas system provider that currently offers a CARB certified Ford F-150.

Westport also received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certification for its 2015 model year Ford F-250 and F-350 super duty trucks with the Westport WiNG™ bi-fuel CNG system.

What do these certifications mean for consumers?

Driving What They’re Selling: DTE Energy on Why Their Fleet Includes NGVs

Providing electricity and gas services to over three million customers in Michigan requires DTE Energy staff to drive vehicles they can rely on. The company maintains a fleet of nearly 5,000 vehicles, which includes around 300 natural gas vehicles (NGVs). Each vehicle logs about 18,000 miles annually.

“Being a natural gas utility, we’ve always been interested in using CNG as a vehicle fuel,” says Mark Johnson, Director of Fleet Operations.

One of DTE Energy's 300 natural gas vehicles: a bi-fuel Westport WiNG™ Ford F-250 pickup.

The company’s field staff and supervisors spend a significant amount of time driving to customer sites, setting up utility service and responding to power concerns, among other duties. Several field staff drive bi-fuel Ford F-250 Westport WiNG™ Power System pickups and many will soon drive the Westport WiNG Ford F-150 dedicated compressed natural gas (CNG) pickup; the company placed orders for Ford’s first-ever offering of the CNG-capable F-150.

On the Road with Apache's Natural Gas-Powered Fleet

With a fleet of over 1,200 vehicles in the U.S., and a turnover of 100 to 200 vehicles per year, the employees at Apache Corporation know what it means to put a lot of miles on their trucks.

About half of the current fleet now runs on natural gas, says Frank Chapel, Apache’s Director of Natural Gas Transportation Fuels, and the long term goal is to have 80 per cent comprised of light and medium-duty natural gas vehicles (NGVs).

“Our whole purpose is to lead by example and promote natural gas as the transportation fuel of choice,” Frank says. “We are doing this by transforming our fleet to natural gas power and constructing supporting CNG fueling stations.”

Around half of Apache's fleet are natural gas vehicles, including bi-fuel Westport WiNG™ Power System Ford F-250s