Currently, UPS operates more than 1,100 natural gas-powered vehicles. Mike Britt, director of vehicle engineering, stated: “This is an important step not only from an environmental standpoint but from the viewpoint of U.S. energy security. LNG is an excellent fuel for large trucks that need to travel a long distance before refuelling. They can make the round trip Nevada- Las Vegas on one tank of fuel. Moreover, liquefied natural gas is in abundant supply inside the country so it does not have to be imported”, he explained.
Regarding the new facility, Clean Energy chief marketing officer, James Harger, said “The development of LNG station infrastructure is in direct response to the increasing demand for natural gas by major trucking companies which deploy LNG-powered trucks throughout the region”.
Once that facility is completed, UPS will base the 48 new heavy-duty vehicles in Las Vegas and expand the number of long-haul routes in the West part of the U.S.
