Kelowna, B.C.-based Nortrans has put into service one of the first commercially deployed Kenworth T880 natural gas trucks, powered by the Cummins X15N engine.

The carrier says the truck is already pulling full-weight loads from Revelstoke, B.C. to Oroville, Wash., for Gorman Bros. Lumber. Operating in real-world conditions at full payloads in mountainous terrain, Nortrans says it’s a good test for the engine.

The X15N is providing diesel-like torque and reliability, the company said, while producing less pollution. FortisBC suggests natural gas vehicles reduced NOx by 95%, GHG emissions by 30%, and produce virtually no particulate matter.

FortisBC is providing the fueling infrastructure in Kelowna while Clean Energy is building out a fueling network. Natural Resources Canada helped fund the acquisition through its Green Freight Program. Fueling stations are being built along key corridors including in Abbotsford, Kamloops, Kelowna, Calgary and Edmonton.

“Nortrans is proving that natural gas trucking is a present reality rather than a future possibility. The Cummins X15N natural gas engine delivers scalability, practicality, and environmental responsibility in one solution,” the company said in a release. “As one of the first projects of its kind in Canada, this truck represents a turning point in the journey toward lower emission freight.” 

“At FortisBC, we have been working with fleet operators for more than 15 years to move away from diesel and toward lower carbon fuels such as compressed natural gas,” added Della Bond, account manager, low carbon transportation at FortisBC. “This new CNG truck represents another step forward, helping operators lower emissions and reduce fuel costs while maintaining the reliability they require.”