Freightliner Trucks announced that Gemini Motor Transport LLC has purchased up to 50 Freightliner Cascadia 113 natural gas day cab units to provide fuel distribution to the over 300 Love's Travel Stops throughout the USA. Gemini will purchase and take delivery of the vehicles in the 4th Quarter of 2013.
Gemini has been testing the Freightliner Cascadia equipped with the Cummins Westport ISX G since September 2012 and witnessed many benefits synonymous with natural gas vehicles including fuel savings and cleaner greenhouse gas emissions. "We've had great success with the CNG engine to deliver fuel to Love's Travel Stops," said Brent Bergevin, director of transport for Gemini Transport. "The CNG engine has a 450-mile range, and we've seen a significant cost benefit in using CNG as a transportation fuel."
Equipped with the new Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine, the Allison 4000HS transmission, and 90 diesel gallon equivalent compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tanks, the Cascadia 113 natural gas tractor is ideal for regional haul and less-than-truckload applications.
The 12-liter ISX12 G natural gas engine is based on the Cummins ISX12 diesel heavy duty engine platform and will operate on either CNG or liquefied natural gas (LNG). It features ratings of 400 hp and 1,450 lb-ft torque, optional engine brake, and manual and automatic transmission capability.
"For many customers, natural gas products will result in significant fuel savings while benefitting the environment," said David Hames, general manager marketing and strategy, Daimler Trucks North America. "The addition of the Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty natural gas engine to the Freightliner product portfolio provides an exciting extension of our clean offerings in the over-the-road segment."
The tractor is just one of Freightliner Trucks' natural gas-powered vehicles, which also includes the Freightliner Business Class M2 112 and the 114SD. Parent company Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) leads the medium and heavy commercial vehicle market in the production of natural gas powered conventional vehicles with a combined sales figure of more than 4,600 natural gas vehicles across its brands. Of those, Freightliner Trucks has sold more than 1,900 trucks and tractors since 2008.
Currently available for order, full production of the Cascadia 113 natural gas begins in Q3 2013.
