EcoDual, a provider of dual fuel conversion systems for heavy-duty diesel trucks, has received authorization from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to begin installing its systems on 2004 to 2009 Cummins ISX engines. The systems provide fleets an opportunity to substitute low cost natural gas for expensive diesel fuel, according to a company announcement.
Dual fuel conversion systems enable existing heavy-duty diesel trucks to operate on a combination of diesel and natural gas. In dual fuel operation mode, the trucks maintain full torque and power with no loss of miles per gallon, EcoDual said. The systems are easily installed at the fleet owner’s site and are fully warranted, according to Scott Myers, EcoDual CEO & president. Dual fuel provides the added benefit of automatic operation of the truck on 100% diesel if the natural gas tank runs dry.
The EcoDual technology enables existing diesel engines to be converted to operate on up to 85% natural gas providing fuel cost savings that will allow fleets to recoup the cost of the dual fuel system in operational savings within one year without any government incentives, Myers said.
“EcoDual is committed to providing a major cost savings to truck fleet owners,” Myers said. “Our system immediately provides a low-cost natural gas fueling solution to millions of heavy duty trucks. We do this with safe, convenient, inexpensive compressed natural gas (CNG) and deliver the long-range operation of more than 800 miles on dual fuel that fleet owners want. We are starting to take orders now and will begin shipping product in May.”
The EcoDual conversion system was successfully demonstrated and tested on cross-country runs in a truck provided by J.W. Stenger Trucking of Barnesville, OH.
“We jumped at the opportunity to work with EcoDual because its system will give us huge savings in our fuel costs,” said Joe Stenger, company president.
Over the next 12 months, EcoDual will be releasing multiple systems certified for newer trucks with the Cummins ISX and other engine families from Detroit Diesel, Mack and Caterpillar.
