Dawood Engineering, Inc., is one of the first small businesses in Pennsylvania to drive a vehicle with a factory-installed dual-fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) system with the delivery of a new 2013 Dodge Ram 2500, presented at a special unveiling ceremony at Dawood’s Enola headquarters in Enola, Pa.

Speakers at the ceremony included Jim Welty, Government Affairs, Marcellus Shale Coalition; Dan Lapato, Deputy Director for Special Projects, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and Bony Dawood, President, Dawood Engineering, Inc.

Dawood, a multi-disciplinary, professional consulting firm specializing in civil engineering, environmental services, geotechnical engineering, land development, and surveying services, participates in public and privately funded projects throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and Virginia.

Acquired through Enterprise Fleet Management, a full-service fleet management company for businesses with medium size fleets, the factory-installed CNG pickup truck features a special engine calibration along with a body built to accommodate two separate fuel sources, as well as a single door for both CNG and regular fuel ports. Unlike aftermarket conversion systems that have been the only option until now for pickup trucks, the factory-installed CNG system is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, and vehicles can be repaired at a local dealership. 

“Dawood is excited to be one of the first small businesses in the state to drive a CNG vehicle,” stated Bony R. Dawood, PE, President of Dawood. “We are delighted to have the opportunity to support the local natural gas industry, which has a major presence in our state and is one of our largest customers.”

Dawood’s first CNG vehicle is based at the company’s Sayre office location in northeastern Pennsylvania, where it has convenient access to three CNG fueling stations that are available to the public.  Although initially it is the only CNG vehicle in the company’s 40-vehicle fleet comprised mostly of pickups and small SUVs, Dawood plans to add more as it replaces older vehicles.  CNG is ideally suited for Dawood because drivers generally follow a return-to-base model that avoids any problems caused by the absence of a convenient CNG fueling station. 

Because it is leasing its CNG vehicle, Dawood does not qualify for government incentives that require a purchase.  Still, the company feels strongly that driving CNG vehicles is the right thing to do, especially for Pennsylvania businesses.

“In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and being more environmentally friendly than gasoline or diesel, compressed natural gas is a locally produced fuel that is important to our local economy, local job opportunities and local communities throughout Pennsylvania,” stated Dawood. 

He added that while CNG achieves nearly identical mileage as unleaded regular gasoline, it costs approximately one-third less and will help control fuel costs.  In addition, because natural gas burns so cleanly, maintenance costs may be lower with less wear and tear on the engine and longer intervals between tune-ups and coil changes.

Dawood first began considering a CNG vehicle about a year ago when it was introduced to the idea at a conference.  Having worked with Enterprise Fleet Management over the past four years, Dawood relied on Enterprise’s ability to acquire one of the first new factory-installed, duel-fuel, heavy duty CNG pickup trucks to come off the production line.