NGVAmerica Applauds Study Showing Dramatic Smog Reductions from Natural Gas Engine

NGVAmerica commends the results of a new study conducted by the University of California, Riverside College of Engineering Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) on the new Cummins Westport near-zero emissions ISX12N 400 natural gas engine. The study showed the natural gas engine met and exceeded California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) cleanest optional low-NOx standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr and maintained those emissions during in-use duty cycles.

“The natural gas vehicle industry has taken a proactive approach to not just meeting but exceeding emissions standards, and the results of the study conducted by CE-CERT confirm the important environmental achievements realized by this approach,” said NGVAmerica President Dan Gage. “The findings confirm natural gas engines provide dramatically lower emissions and continue to make natural gas the best option for fleets across North America.”

Most heavy-duty vehicles today are powered by diesel and represent one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and fuel consumption in North America. By contrast, the new near-zero emissions engine provides heavy-duty fleets an opportunity to dramatically reduce smog-forming emissions and achieve environmental sustainability goals. And unlike other alternative powertrain options like electric or hydrogen, natural gas engines are proven and commercially ready-right-now for all medium- and heavy-duty applications, both on- and off-road.