etruck.com.au

2008 may be the year natural gas, in all its forms, finally gets a bit of credibility in the transport industry in Australia. On the evidence of the recent Brisbane Truck Show the truck manufacturers are now taking gas power seriously and on the evidence of operator interest at the the same show, gas may be ready for its day in the sun.

The two truck manufacturers whose market knowledge is most finely attuned, Isuzu and Kenworth (numbers one in the truck market and heavy duty), have got the message and released gas powered trucks. Isuzu are off down the compressed natural gas track while Kenworth need liquefied natural gas for their bigger trucks going longer distances.

At the moment the diesel price has stabilised at a relatively low level compared with recent history but the chances of an upturn in the price is likely to eventuate, there is little expectation of a fall. Natural gas prices remain fixed over long term contracts, normally ten years.

This price stability is likely to be the deciding factor for many operators, with the introduction of a carbon trading scheme the cream on the top. It is also the arrival of very precise electronic control of combustion giving the CNG and LNG gas engines a chance to compete with diesel on efficiency and performance.

Gas power may be limited by the engine options available now. Currently, Cummins are the only engine supplier at the top end of the market, Mack are using their ISL engine with spark ignition for CNG while Kenworth offer the Westport direct injection LNG engine based on the ISX and Iveco are fitting the ISC in the Acco.

After the interest we saw in Brisbane last week we can expect a few manufacturers will be talking to their engine suppliers and asking the question, when can we get one?