Transitioning from diesel isn't easy - but it is happening
It's costly up front, but more and more are taking the plunge
by Keith Barker
One of our industry’s biggest costs, like so many industries, is fuel. There are of course a number of alternatives to gasoline and diesel, but it is expensive and time consuming to make the transition.
Alternative fuel trucks – including those capable of running on CNG and LNG (compressed and liquefied natural gas), electricity, biofuels, as well as hydraulic and hybrid system powered trucks – are generally more expensive up front. This is, in part, because the engine technology is so new, and not nearly as mass-produced as gasoline and diesel technologies. Plus, the fueling and maintenance infrastructure just isn’t built yet. And while much progress has been made in the development of alternative fuel engines, the questions still linger for many: Will these new engines be as powerful? Will they be as reliable? Is the up-front cost and infrastructure required worth it? Truly, there is a great deal of effort and adjustment required, not to mention capital, if the transition is to be made.
Many in the industry though, are stepping up.
In our cover article (Volume 19, Number 7, October 2011, page 8) we look at one of North America’s largest waste and recycle companies (IESI-BFC – now Progressive Waste Solutions) and how they are starting down the long road towards a switch to CNG powered trucks for their fleet. IESI in Texas is finding the fuel savings to be quite significant – more than 20 percent. Plus, they are seeing an indirect payoff in their customer relations, because they are operating in a more environmentally friendly way by using cleaner-burning CNG fuel.
One of the main points that needs to be remembered for companies looking to make the transition away from traditional fossil fuels is that fueling itself must be taken into consideration.
The recommendation from Curtis Dorwart of Mack Trucks, which was very similar to what I heard from several speakers at this year’s Waste Expo, is that, for natural gas, to effectively make the transition, commercial fueling stations should not be relied upon. This will undoubtedly change in time. For now though, companies looking to make the transition to natural gas, and other alternative fuels, probably need to look at investing in company-owned fueling infrastructure. And they need to think about the additional training and maintenance infrastructure that will be required. Find a company who has made the transition, and ask questions.
Really, it’s no different than any environmental aspirations we might have. The profitability of making change needs to be considered in the long-term. Still, spending now to save on costs later, or for environmental benefits, is not easy for many business owners. In an increasing number of cases however, even when the direct benefits of “doing the right thing” are questionable or difficult to measure, this industry continues to provide examples of those who just get it done.
On page 12 (RPN, October 2011) we look at a small auto recycler and towing company owner in a remote region of B.C. who made a significant investment in the latest state-of-the-art auto drainage technology – not so much to increase his production and profitability – but simply because he “wants to do things properly”. Kudos to Eric Etelamaki of Balfour Towing.