At the 57th annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) being held this week in Williamsburg, VA, Navistar Inc. showcased several of its green trucks to electric utility fleet managers. The OEM displayed its new International TerraStar Class 4/5 medium-duty truck and its new all-electric eStar Class 2-3 truck and demonstrated an International DuraStar medium-duty truck equipped with a natural gas conversion powertrain.
A kit developed by McKinney, TX-based Emissions Solutions Inc. (ESI) allows DurasStar conversions ranging from 175-300 hp with 460-860 lb.-ft. torque and are capable of supporting both liquefied and compressed natural gas. Navistar stated that the natural gas-powered DuraStar will be fully certified to meet EPA 2010 emissions.
Navistar noted it will soon be making available for customer-ordering through its Garland, TX Truck Specialty Center facility an International WorkStar model with a DT 466 engine, ESI natural gas conversion kit, and either frame- or back-of-cab mounted natural gas tanks.
“The utility industry is very conscious about their public-facing environmental image,” remarked Jim Hebe, senior vp, North American sales operations for Navistar. “Recognizing the domestic raw material advantage the United States and Canada share with natural gas resources, we felt very compelled to invest in our products in such a way that enables our customers to expand their usage of very low emissions technologies through our engines. The use of natural gas certainly accomplishes this and we are proud to partner with ESI to install this advanced engine at our facilities.”.
