Shell, TravelCenters of America Open More LNG Lanes

Shell opened two new lanes serving liquefied natural gas at TravelCenters of America truck refueling stations located in Baytown, Texas and in Lafayette, La. The lanes are meant to service trucks driving to the Port of Houston and traveling through Louisiana.

The two lanes follow Shell’s first LNG lane opening in Ontario, Calif., that took place in 2014. Shell and TA made an agreement in 2013 to develop a U.S. nationwide network of LNG fueling centers for heavy-duty fleet customers. The plan was to open lanes in a phased approach, eventually installing LNG at as many as 100 TA and Petro truckstops in the U.S.

The two companies have developed “super lanes” for the expansion of LNG that are equipped to dispense the alternative fuel as well as diesel and DEF. The lanes are integrated with existing fuel lanes to prevent the disruption of traffic flow at the stations. As customer demand grows, Shell and TA plan to open more LNG truck fueling lanes.

“We see an opportunity in using LNG as a lower cost and cleaner fuel alternative to diesel, and expect the strengthening supply chain in North America to give customers reassurance that LNG is becoming a bigger part of the transport fuel mix,” said Shell’s Christian Buelow, General Manager Downstream LNG, Americas.