Rush Enterprises'
Momentum Fuel Technologies has introduced what it says is the industry’s first
complete compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system solution for Class 6-8
trucks.
Rush Truck Centers
has 14 locations with dedicated natural gas service bays and more than 260
technicians trained in natural gas safety and preparedness, more than 55 trained
in fuel-systems and more than 135 trained in OEM systems. Rush says the company
has made extensive investments in facilities and tooling upgrades to meet safety
requirements and effectively service the Momentum CNG fuel system.
engine
“We are also
working with independent service providers including the Cummins distributor and
Peterbilt dealer networks, among others, to provide supplemental aftermarket
support in areas where Rush Truck Centers does not currently have dealership
operations,” said Michael J. McRoberts, senior vice president of dealer
operations, Rush Enterprises.
"The industry is
ready for a complete CNG fuel system solution," said W.M. 'Rusty' Rush,
chairman, CEO and president of Rush Enterprises. "With Rush Truck Centers’
expertise in natural gas truck sales and service and an unsurpassed support
network, we are well positioned to launch Momentum Fuel Technologies."
The company plans
to offer both side-mount and back-of-cab mount systems. Side-mount systems
include a 40-diesel-gallon-equivalent system with a range of 176-220 miles and a
45-DGE system with a range of 198-248 miles.
The back-of-cab
mount system Rush initially intends to offer will be 110 DGE with a range of
506-633 miles. It also expect to offer another back-of-cab mount system, 150 DGE
with a range of 660-825 miles, in fall 2015.
Rush said while he
does not see natural gas replacing diesel, there is still market for natural gas
engine and “this market needs competition.” Rush says he has seen a change in
the length of haul of his customers. “Typical length of haul used to be 1,200
miles. Now they are 500, and this plays into the rise of CNG.” The fuel system
boasts a number of safety features including:
·
Area pressure
Relief Devices (PRD): In the event of a fire or other emergency, fuel is vented
out through tubes at the rear of the system. All PRD vent tubes are fitted with
weatherproof caps to protect the system from environmental elements.
·
Color Coded for
Quick Visual Indication: All high-pressure lines in the system are color coded
so they are easy for drivers and technicians to identify.
·
Standard fuel door
safety warning system: This prevents the engine from starting if the door is
ajar.
The system is
engineered to maximize fill rates, reserving customers’ valuable time for the
road. Additionally, fuel flows straight from the manifold to the individual
tanks using a parallel-flow fill system.
Built-in safeguards
increase driver confidence in fuel levels and reduce range anxiety. The
temperature-compensated fuel-level system reflects accurate gas and pressure
levels so drivers won’t feel the need to make continual fuel top-offs on the
road. The Electronic Control Module (ECM) converts the tank readings through the
Fuel Level Interface Module (FLIM) and outputs the signal to the
factory-installed fuel gauge.
The system comes
with both transit-fill and time-fill fuel ports. The design includes oversized
tubing with fewer bends and fittings plus a high-flow ball valve. Customers can
choose optional front-bumper or passenger-side fuel ports for added
convenience.
The system is
designed to be lightweight and the company partnered with 3M to use its
nanoparticle-enhanced matrix resin technology, which it says results in a six
percent improvement in fiber delivered burst strength when compared to vessels
with conventional resin.
To manufacture the
fuel systems, Momentum Fuel Technologies invested millions of dollars in its
109,000-square-foot CNG-dedicated facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with
state-of-the art machining equipment.
Rush says the
company already has invested “millions of dollars in the project and investment
will continue. I am in this for the long term. This is a good leverage play for
us.” Mike Zimmerman, general manager of Momentum Fuel Technologies, says, “It
was no easy task to start from nothing, but we used the voice of the customer to
tell us how they wanted to have the fuel system designed.”
Customers expressed
interest in a number of areas, including driver confidence, system weight,
critical safety features, limiting downtime and a complete support network.
Momentum Fuel Technologies’ solution meets these needs, Zimmerman said. “We are
truck people, not tank people, so we approached this from the frame rails out.
The integration was the most difficult part.”
He says the
approach for this new product line is based on innovative design, advanced
safety features, installation expertise and a nationwide support network.
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