The next time a FedEx truck arrives at your door take a look at the sticker on the back – your parcel may have arrived courtesy of compressed natural gas (CNG).
Harry Carver, a FedEx contractor based in Tyler, Texas, drives nine routes from Longview to Kilgore and purchased a CNG-powered Ford 5-59 Step Van for his fleet of 14 trucks with plans of four more alternative-fuel units, according to Westport.
The truck makes 90 stops a day and is equipped to carry 250 boxes. Carver said he read about different fuel options when his local Ford dealer told him about a demo truck equipped with the dedicated Westport WiNG Power System.
“I checked on the price on Tuesday and bought the truck on Wednesday,” Carver said.
Carver’s trucks drive more than 36,000 miles per year. He said the Texas Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program, an incentive program operated through the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan - was one of the deciding factors in transitioning his fleet to CNG.
The program’s website states the grant provides reimbursement of up to 90 percent of the incremental cost for replacement or repower of medium-and heavy-duty vehicles greater than 8,500-pounds GVW.
The program is intended to encourage owners and operators of heavy- or medium-duty vehicles to convert vehicles to natural gas or replace vehicles with a natural gas vehicle.
