Momentum Fuel Technologies has introduced what it says is the industry’s first complete compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system solution for Class 6 to Class 8 trucks, offering support from design and manufacturing, to sales and ongoing service throughout the product life cycle.
“The industry is ready for a complete CNG fuel system solution,” said W.M. “Rusty” Rush, chairman, chief executive officer and president, Rush Enterprises. “With Rush Truck Centers’ expertise in natural gas truck sales and service and an unsurpassed support network, we are well-positioned to launch Momentum Fuel Technologies.”
According to ACT Research Co., adoption rates for U.S. Class 8 natural gas-powered commercial vehicles will grow steadily from four percent in 2014 to an estimated 10 percent in 2018 and 23 percent in 2020 (ACT Research Co. Adoption Forecasts 2015).
“We believe that the preference for natural gas vehicles will continue to grow, increasing nearly five-fold in the next five years, as ACT indicates,” said Rush.
“The company plans to offer both side-mount and back-of-cab mount systems. Side-mount systems include a 40DGE with a range of 176-220 miles and 45DGE with a range of 198-248 miles. The back-of-cab mount system we initially intend to offer will be 110DGE with a range of 506-633 miles. We expect to offer another back-of-cab mount system, 150DGE with a range of 660-825 miles in fall 2015.”
According to general manager of Momentum Fuel Technologies Mike Zimmerman, future product development will include an expanded range of configurations to meet the needs of a number of market segments.
“In addition, we will continue to work with Cummins Engine Company and other major engine manufacturers to ensure the Momentum CNG fuel system is well-integrated and optimized to work efficiently with current and developing engine technology,” said Zimmerman.
The system is engineered to maximize fill rates, reserving customers’ valuable time for the road. Additionally, fuel flows straight from the manifold to the individual tanks using a parallel-flow fill system.
Built-in safeguards increase driver confidence in fuel levels and reduce range anxiety. The temperature-compensated fuel-level system reflects accurate gas and pressure levels so drivers won’t feel the need to make continual fuel top-offs on the road. The Electronic Control Module (ECM) converts the tank readings through the Fuel Level Interface Module (FLIM) and outputs the signal to the factory-installed fuel gauge.
The system comes with both transit-fill and time-fill fuel ports. The design includes oversized tubing with fewer bends and fittings plus a high-flow ball valve. Customers can choose optional front-bumper or passenger-side fuel ports for added convenience.