Toronto’s truck fleet may run on biomethane

Toronto is exploring ways to use its collected organic materials more efficiently, including the production of fuel for this new truck and others like it that may be added to the city’s fleet in the future. “It is important to the city to pilot test vehicles with alternative fuel technologies before making a long-term commitment,” explained the city’s Fleet Services director Gerry Pietschmann.

In turn, general manager of Solid Waste Management (area that handles the transfer and disposal of Toronto’s garbage) Geoff Rathbone said: “We hope to convert biogas produced from digesting Green Bin organic material into CNG for distribution across Enbridge’s system. In essence, the city will be making its own natural gas. Our two Green Bin processing facilities have the potential to produce enough natural gas to take our entire fleet of 300 waste trucks off diesel.”

It is worth mentioning that the truck unveiled has a Cummins Westport ISL G engine that runs on CNG, which is fuel efficient and can meet the new 2010 emission standards without the need for the complex emission-control technology (such as diesel particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction) that is required for diesel trucks.