Vedder sings LNG tune

VANCOUVER — Vedder Transport is giving Petes a chance this Holiday season — LNG-powered Petes, that is.

The Abbotsford, B.C.-based, 300-truck, bulk carrier is taking delivery of 50 Peterbilt 386’s powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Terasen Gas, a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., the province’s largest natural gas distributor, will fuel the fleet through a planned LNG refuelling station in Abbotsford, which is expected to be built in 2011.

The LNG engines are built by Westport Innovations, of Vancouver.

Vedder’s move comes shortly after a similar announcement from Quebec’s Robert Transport, which ordered 180 of the same Petes in October.

The Westport HD System consists of the GX 15-liter engine, proprietary Westport fuel injectors, LNG fuel tanks with integrated cryogenic fuel pumps, and associated electronic components to facilitate robust performance and reliable operation.

The Westport HD GX engine is certified and compliant to 2010 U.S. EPA and California Air Resources Board emission limits.

Commented Clark Quintin, president of Westport’s HD division: "[The Vedder purchase] further demonstrates that natural gas is rapidly becoming a mainstream fuel solution for the trucking industry in Canada."

Adding natural gas trucks to its fleet will help reduce transportation-related emissions, ultimately improving air quality while reducing fuel management expenses," said Fred Zweep, president of the Vedder Transportation Group.