To demonstrate the system’s power and performance in West Michigan, Valley has already converted a semi-tractor, which can be hooked up to any trailer used by their customers. The conversion uses a computerized system, developed by American Power Group (APG), to add natural gas to the fuel mix after a truck has been started on diesel. APG has given Valley exclusive distribution of the system in five Midwestern states.
According to Valley’s vice president of sales and marketing Randy Farmer, they are working with DTE Energy, which has recently opened a public CNG station in West Michigan, to build additional fueling sites throughout the state also over the next five years. “We’re going to place them so you’ll have a 200-mile range,” said Farmer. “As more fueling stations are built, they are counting on the acceptance of dual fuel conversions to grow, too.”