Clean Energy Launches Zero Financing Plan for Natural Gas Trucks
Clean Energy Fuels announced a new Zero Now Financing program that makes the cost of purchasing a new natural gas heavy-duty truck equalizes to the price with a similarly equipped diesel truck.
Clean Energy Fuels announced a new Zero Now Financing program to equalize the cost of a natural gas heavy-duty truck with a similarly equipped diesel truck.
Photo courtesy Clean Energy Fuels
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. announced on July 18 its new Zero Now Financing program. The company said the program “makes the cost of purchasing a new natural gas heavy-duty truck equipped with the cleanest engine in the world equal to the price or even lower than that of the same truck equipped with a diesel engine.”
In addition, trucks financed or purchased via Zero Now Financing program will be able to purchase natural gas fuel at a fixed price “significantly discounted to diesel” for the term of the financing/lease through a unique hedging program.
If the trucks financed also qualify for grants that are offered in certain states, the cost could be considerably less than a diesel truck, stated Clean Energy Fuels.
The new natural gas trucks will be powered by the Cummins Westport ISX12N engine that has been certified by California Air Resources Board CARB and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 0.02 g-NOx/bhp-hr and tested at 0.01 g-NOx/bhp-hr. Clean Energy Fuels said that is at least 90% lower NOx emissions than current EPA NOx standards, “making it the cleanest engine available today.”
“The Zero Now Financing program levels the financial playing field by removing the price differential of a natural gas truck versus a diesel truck. This combination will give fleets a considerable sustainability advantage, which could result in winning more business,” said Andrew J. Littlefair, president and CEO, Clean Energy. “The goal is to significantly reduce the environmental impact of heavy-duty trucking and widen the adoption of natural gas as a clean, American-made fuel to move America’s goods around the country.”
Clean Energy Fuels already makes its Redeem renewable natural gas (RNG) available at many of its public stations and said it will work with fleets to provide it wherever possible. The company said that Redeem allows customers to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by at least 70% vs. diesel. Redeem is the cleanest fuel for trucking today, according to Clean Energy Fuels, with some RNG sources even reducing GHG emissions by over 100%.
Clean Energy is launching Zero Now Financing with $100 million in credit support from its new strategic partner Total S.A., a global energy firm. Also, Clean Energy said it is partnering with “multiple well-known financial institutions to make the process as seamless as possible.”
The program extends to trucks built by a variety of manufacturers, operating on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG) and that are equipped with the new Cummins Westport ISX12N engine. The Zero Now Financing offer will include a five-year engine coverage option on the ISX12.
Clean Energy operates a fueling network of over 100 public stations strategically located around the U.S. and Canada that accommodate Class 8 tractors and plans to add more to meet demand.
Related: Clean Energy, Harbor Trucking Association Partner for Cleaner-Burning Port Trucks
More Fuel Smarts
Cummins Adjusts 2027 Engine Rollout After EPA Proposal
The engine maker will gradually introduce its new Model Year 2027 diesel engines while continuing to offer current models during the transition, citing the EPA's proposed emissions rule changes.
Read More →
EPA Proposal Could Ease 2027 Truck Costs and Buying Uncertainty
The proposal doesn't change the tougher NOx standard, but it would revise key implementation requirements that manufacturers say have driven up costs and complicated fleet purchasing decisions.
Read More →
Cummins, Paccar Ease DEF Derates After EPA Guidance
Updated diesel engine software gives truck operators more time to address emissions-system issues while staying compliant with EPA emissions standards.
Read More →
Maintenance in the Messy Middle Part 3: Biodiesel
Biodiesel can reduce emissions, improve fuel-system lubricity and use existing diesel infrastructure. But NACFE’s Messy Middle maintenance report says fleets must actively manage storage, cold-weather operation, filters and oil drain intervals to avoid problems.
Read More →
Enhance Fleet Performance with High-Efficiency Auxiliary Power Units
Drive sustainable cost savings while increasing driver comfort during short- and long-haul logistics operations.
Read More →
Maintenance in the ‘Messy Middle’ Part 2: Renewable Diesel Fuel
NACFE's latest Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says renewable diesel gives fleets an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions without changing trucks, fueling infrastructure or maintenance practices. But technicians still need to understand several important operational differences.
Read More →
The Diesel Engine Enters NACFE’s ‘Messy Middle’
NACFE’s new Messy Middle Powertrain Service & Maintenance report says keeping modern diesel engines running now depends as much on software, diagnostics and data as traditional mechanical service.
Read More →
DTNA Software Update Gives Truckers More Time Before DEF Derates Take Effect
The changes reflect EPA guidance aimed at reducing downtime caused by emissions-system faults while maintaining compliance requirements.
Read More →
New Agentic Predictive Maintenance Report Demonstrates How Degraded Aftertreatment Systems Waste Fuel
Questar analyzed a large mixed-class fleet and discovered it was wasting as much as $30 in fuel per vehicle, per day, because of mechanically degraded aftertreatment systems.
Read More →
New York City's Microhub Project is Delivering Results
Trucking, last-mile delivery companies, and environmental advocates like what they are seeing so far with New York's microhub program.
Read More →