Allegheny County Adds Its First Two CNG Vehicles to Fleet

To most Plum, Oakmont and Verona residents, the new, white Allegheny County trucks they might pass on the roadways won't appear to be anything extraordinary.

But they are a first step in the county going green with a cleaner-burning fuel for fleet vehicles.

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and other officials unveiled the county’s first two compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles at a press conference on Monday. Each vehicle cost $35,285.

The Silverado 2500 HD, four-wheel drive, extended cab pickup trucks contain specially designed 6.0 litre Vortec V8 engines and have a gross vehicle weight of 9,500 pounds.

The trucks are factory-built with hardened valves and seals, which are critical for CNG vehicles, according to a news release from the county. After manufacture, the CNG components are added. The final vehicle is bi-fuel, meaning that there are two complete fueling systems and either can be used. The two trucks are also California EPA Air Resources Board (CARB) certified.

 “I’m really excited about the arrival of these two vehicles and truly believe that this reinforces our commitment to using natural gas in the county,” Fitzgerald said. “Natural gas vehicles have a number of advantages—nearly 87 percent of U.S. natural gas is domestically produced. There are 60 to 90 percent less smog-producing pollutants and 30 to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions. And natural gas is less expensive than gasoline, which contributes to our bottom line.”

The cost for CNG might make owners of standard cars a little jealous. While the average motorist paid about $3.60 for gasoline this week in the Plum-Oakmont area, the estimated cost of compressed natural gas is running about $1.90 a gallon.

There are two publicly available CNG fueling stations within the county—one in the Strip District and one in Crafton.

Natural gas burns cleaner than conventional gasoline or diesel due to its lower carbon content. according to information from the county. When used as a vehicle fuel, it can offer life cycle greenhouse gas emissions benefits and may reduce some types of tailpipe emissions.

Natural gas, a fossil fuel comprised mostly of methane, is one of the cleanest burning alternative fuels. It can be used in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel cars and trucks.

The Post-Gazette reports that bills centering around the use of CNG are in various states of development in Harrisburg. One is a tax credit program for CNG fleet vehicles, which passed last week. A second bill encouraging transit agencies to buy more CNG buses is being considered this week.

Do you think all municipal vehicles purchased in the future should use compressed natural gas? Tell us in the comments section below.

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