Actual demand for natural gas trucks falling short of expectations
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Interest in natural gas trucks has waned, with demand falling well short of what was projected two years ago, according to a new report from ACT Research.
The rapidly declining cost of diesel has meant the return on investment when buying natural gas trucks has become less lucrative, ACT reports.
Original projections suggested there would be a 5% penetration of natural gas heavy-duty trucks, but based on 2014 actual results and the sharp drop in diesel prices, that initial projection is now labeled by ACT as “optimistic.”
“With the price differential between diesel and natural gas narrowing, the ROI to convert from diesel to natural gas is moving in the wrong direction: payback periods are lengthening,” said Ken Vieth, ACT’s senior partner and general manager.
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I guess it always about saving money but in terms of real thinking about future energy costs and the uncertainty diesel trucks being under fire because of the pollution it doesn’t make sense. Because diesel is getting more cheaper and aligning with the price of natural gas that goes to show how companies and or people care less about the environment. Someday companies will be caught with their pants down because all of a sudden they will be forced to find a cleaner way to do business and then the savings that they could have had will be lost .