Clean Energy Fuels Corp., North America's leading provider of natural gas fuel for transportation, has signed a strategic joint marketing and fueling agreement with Navistar International Corp., global truck and engine manufacturer.
Clean Energy will provide a comprehensive CNG/LNG fueling solution designed to meet Navistar customer demands and bring new customers into the natural gas market. Specifically, Clean Energy will work with Navistar and its customers to provide truck lessees with fueling contracts whose fuel cost savings help to lower overall costs. Clean Energy also expects to participate with Navistar in selected trucking industry exhibitions and provide assistance on dealer outreach and education on fueling issues.
Clean Energy designs, builds and operates stations that supply compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel. It operates hundreds of natural gas fueling stations nationwide and is developing America's Natural Gas Highway, a backbone network of 150 LNG fueling stations that will enable goods movement coast-to-coast and border-to-border.
Andrew J. Littlefair, Clean Energy president and CEO, said, "We believe the deployment of new, innovative, heavy-duty natural gas engines by world-class original equipment truck manufacturers like Navistar is accelerating the transition to natural gas fuel as a game-changer for heavy-duty trucking. We welcome the opportunity to work with Navistar to bring the benefits of clean, cost-effective, domestically-abundant natural gas fuel to the company's trucking customer base."
"Natural gas has clearly emerged as the most realistic alternative fuel option for the trucking industry," said Dan Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO. "Together, Navistar and Clean Energy have come up with a breakthrough program that offers customers a quicker payback on their investment plus added fuel costs savings from day one of operation. When combined with Navistar's industry-leading dealer network and Clean Energy's unmatched fuel distribution system, customers can be confident that bringing natural gas vehicles into their fleets makes good business sense."
Currently priced up to $1.50 per gallon lower than diesel or gasoline (depending upon local markets), the use of natural gas fuel reduces costs significantly for vehicle and fleet owners, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions approximately 23 percent in medium to heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, natural gas is a secure North American energy source with 98 percent of the natural gas consumed produced in the U.S. and Canada.
