Kenworth Truck Company has expanded its line of green products by offering factory-installed, dual liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks on Kenworth T800s powered by the 15-liter Westport GX engine, and also is offering a 22.5-inch tire and wheel package and expanded wheelbase choices for the Kenworth K270 and K370 medium-duty cabovers.
“By equipping a Kenworth T800 with dual LNG fuel tanks, operators now have the option of running the truck up to 700 miles on a single fueling,” said Alan Fennimore, Kenworth’s vocational marketing manager. “This option doubles the operating range of a typical LNG-powered Kenworth T800 equipped with a single LNG tank, making the truck a better choice for long haulers with slip-seat or drop-and-hook operations and for regional haulers whose drivers travel long distances, but still return home at the end of their shifts.”
The Kenworth T800, when equipped with the Westport GX, can be ordered in a gross combination weight (GCW) of up to 80,000 lbs. for over-the-road operation, with additional ratings exceeding 100,000 lbs. available for certain applications. For the T800, the GX engine is available in power ratings from 400 to 475 hp and torque ratings from 1,450 to 1,750 lb-ft, giving it similar horsepower and torque ratings to its diesel engine counterparts. Since natural gas can be produced in North America, it helps reduce dependence on foreign oil sources.
For the dual LNG tank configuration, Kenworth uses a Dewar flask (or cryogenic tank) system that is like a large Thermos(R) bottle inside a metal cylinder. Each LNG fuel tank, which is designed to keep the fuel in its liquid state at minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, can hold up to 60 diesel gallon equivalents (DGE) of fuel. The dual LNG tank configuration is only available on the Kenworth T800, equipped with a day cab or the Kenworth Extended Day Cab.
“By providing a dual LNG tank configuration, Kenworth is helping truck operators take full advantage of plans by major fuel providers to install a larger network of natural gas fueling stations across the United States,” Fennimore said.
Over the next two to three years, Chesapeake Energy plans to work with Clean Energy Fuels to install 150 LNG publicly accessible fueling stations for heavy duty trucks along major interstate highway corridors. Plus, engine manufacturer Westport Innovations of Vancouver, B.C., and Shell announced last year the launch of a co-marketing program in North America aimed at providing customers with a better economic case for adopting natural gas-powered vehicles by addressing fuel supply and customer support.
With Kenworth’s new 22.5-inch tire and wheel package, the K270 Class 6 and K370 Class 7 cabovers match up to standard dock heights at pickup and delivery locations in several applications. Depending on van body installation practices, the cab floor will be at approximately 50 inches up from the ground with an 11R22.5-inch package. The K270 will also retain the 19.5-inch tire and wheel package as an alternative for customers that require a lower-step height and entry.
Kenworth also will expand the total wheelbase configurations available for the Kenworth K270 and K370. The new 22.5-inch tire and wheel package introduces a wheelbase range of 146 inches to 242 inches in 12-inch increments. According to Powell, the new longer wheelbase allows for up to a 28-foot van body installation, while the shorter wheelbase can accommodate a van body length down to 16 feet. The cab-to-axle dimension now starts at 120 inches with variations up to 217 inches at a 242-inch wheelbase. The K270 with 19-1/2-inch tires and wheels receives four new wheelbase sizes, covering a range of 142 inches to 238 inches, also in 12-inch increments.
A Kenworth K270 cabover equipped a PACCAR PX-6 250 hp engine, Allison 2100 HS 5-speed transmission and concept aero van body is featured in Kenworth’s booth (No. 12137) at the Great American Trucking Show Aug. 23 -25 at the Dallas Convention Center.