Paper Transport Inc. will launch an over-the-road test of an aftermarket dual-fuel compressed natural gas and diesel system from GreenMan Technologies' American Power Group subsidiary.


Paper Transport has signed an EPA Test Vehicle Exemption agreement, which will allow APG to gather performance and emissions data on a pre-dual fuel and post-dual fuel basis to support recently announced EPA aftermarket approval requirements.

Paper Transport is a regional fleet operator headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., with more than 280 power units delivering goods and services to customers in dedicated and regional configurations. The company has regional fleets in the Upper-Midwest, Southeast, and the Central Plains as well as Intermodal drayage operations and a logistics offering.

"On April 8, 2011, the EPA formally amended the alternative fuel aftermarket conversion regulations for light medium, and heavy duty vehicles, which opens the market for properly engineered conversion systems to literally millions of diesel trucks on the road today," said Lyle Jensen, GreenMan's president and CEO.

APG's dual fuel system converts diesel engines and diesel generators to function more efficiently and at a lower operating cost by seamlessly displacing 40 percent to 60 percent of the normal diesel fuel consumption with CNG, LNG, well-head gas, or bio-methane.

APG's system is non-invasive to the OEM engine and operates within all OEM performance controls with the flexibility to return to 100 percent diesel operation at any time, such as in the event the vehicle goes out of range of the alternative fueling infrastructure.

In addition, the introduction of natural gas through APG's dual fuel system does not impact diesel engine power or pulling torque and will assist in extending the engine's oil life as natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel compared to diesel. The company says it can yield average net fuel cost savings of 25 percent to 35 percent.

"Paper Transport is a regional pioneer in the promotion of natural gas as a transportation fuel and currently operates seven dedicated natural gas trucks," Jensen says. "Paper Transport represents an ideal opportunity for us because they are already operating natural gas vehicles and are looking for a cost effective retrofit solution for a large portion of their remaining diesel vehicles."

The initial vehicle to be tested for Paper Transport will be a 2009 Freightliner Cascadia with a 14.8-liter Detroit Diesel DD15 Series engine.