Alternative fuels go mainstream in Oregon, as Kroger will make the switch from their diesel trucks to a natural gas-fueled fleet.
Switching to alternative fuels will certainly save Kroger shipping costs, as their new fleets will save more than $1.00/gallon in fuel costs. But it’s not just economic savings – the reduction in greenhouse gasses and air pollutants is expected to amount to 755 metric tons per year. That’s the equivalent of taking about 160 cars off the roads for a year.
Via Trucking Info:
Kroger will be the first in Oregon to deploy a fleet of heavy-duty trucks that run on liquified natural gas. The 40 LNG trucks will replace 40 diesel trucks currently in use, and are expected to start making store deliveries in the Portland metropolitan area by the end of 2014.
The use of natural gas fuel not only reduces operating costs for vehicles, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 23% in medium- to heavy-duty vehicles…
The trucks will make deliveries to about 50 Fred Meyer and QFC stores as far south as Corvallis, Oregon, and as far north as Longview, Wash., averaging approximately 175 miles per day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year.