Compressed natural gas (CNG) powered trucks have come to the city of Fort Lauderdale, FL, with the decision by private waste hauler Choice Environmental Services to operate ten CNG refuse trucks in its fleet.
The trucks, which began service on Nov. 1, are the first CNG refuse trucks operated by a private waste hauler in South Florida. Choice expects the trucks to reduce emissions by 25% compared to the diesel-fueled trucks.
Built on an Autocar chassis with Hercules ASL bodies supplied by E-Z Pack Manufacturing, the trucks are fully automated residential collection vehicles with high compaction bodies to reduce trips to the landfill. Cummins Westbrook engines designed to run on natural gas power the vehicles, via four natural gas fuel cells. The fuel capacity is equivalent to 60 gals. of diesel, allowing the trucks to cover the same number of miles as a diesel vehicle.
Teco Peoples Gas supplies the fuel for the vehicles, pumping it from a new facility in Pompano Beach operated by Clean Energy Fuels Corp. of California.
The Hercules ASL body features a high-compaction body, a 6-cubic yard hopper capable of handling 400 gal. containers and simple controls that operate without the aid of computers.
