Feasibility Study for Liquified Natural Gas Utilization for Commercial Vehicles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

摘要

Recent advances in horizontal drilling and fracturing technology in gas shale formations have increased natural gas supply such that its price has decoupled from petroleum and is likely to remain significantly lower for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, gasoline and diesel fuel prices in the United States have peaked above 4 dollars per gallon several times, creating renewed interest in natural gas as an economical, alternative fuel for long-haul commercial vehicles. Liquified natural gas (LNG) has become particularly attractive for commercial long-haul trucks due to its price and ability to provide a safe traveling distance of approximately 600 miles between stops for refueling if the truck is equipped with dual fuel tanks. Owners of commercial trucking fleets are beginning to recognize the competitive advantages that LNG fuel may bring to their business but remain cautious with new truck purchases or engine conversions. This cautious approach to LNG fuel is a result of the increased price for equipment (as compared to the conventional, diesel-fueled truck) and lack of infrastructure for LNG fueling stations. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission recognized the increased spotlight on alternative fuels for vehicles as well and released a white paper in February 2012 titled Feasibility of Utilizing Natural Gas Vehicles Traveling/Maintaining the Pennsylvania Turnpike, from which recommendations to conduct a feasibility study on the topic were recommended. The recommendations from the white paper were further refined for the purposes of this study to focus on the use of LNG as an alternative fuel for the commercial trucking industry along the Turnpike highway system. This study provides detailed information on these issues, including a mathematical model that shows the optimal locations, specific site considerations, and costs for construction of fueling stations at the site of existing service plazas; technical and economic information on LNG engines; and numerous other issues such as safety and benchmarking with other states.