Southern California Gas Company customers in many industry segments have successfully made the switch to CNG vehicles in their fleets. Here are just a few examples:
Refuse
Due to their extreme start and stop duty cycle, refuse fleets can yield very low MPG ratings. Compared to diesel, CNG-powered refuse trucks can provide greatly reduced fuel costs and operate up to 90% more quietly--a significant benefit in densely populated areas. With help from various grants, The City of Ontario opened its CNG station in 1994 and expanded it in 2002. The city operates a fleet of 60 NGVs.
School Buses
Grants covered 80% of the costs of six factory OEM school buses and most of the cost of a new CNG station for Placentia Unified School District. The new buses have been a big hit with drivers, parents and staff, and the District is eager to go 100% CNG as new funding becomes available.
Visalia Unified School District has 38 CNG school buses in operation. The district was able to tap into grants at the federal level, from the California Energy Commission and the local air pollution control district. Grants also covered 80% of the cost of their station with two fast-fill dispensers and 30 time-fill posts.
- Read Placentia Unified School District case study (pdf)
- Read Visalia Unified School District case study (pdf)
Street Sweeping
Since 2002, R.F. Dickson has been using at least 16 CNG street sweepers to keep the streets clean throughout a major portion of the Los Angeles area. They also operate one of the largest private CNG stations in southern California and enjoy the freedom from price fluctuations associated with foreign oil.
Transit Buses
The mass transit fleet in the City of Culver City operates 100 percent on CNG. The city was recently named the #1 Green Fleet in North America for 2009 by the Best Green Fleets National Fleet Certification Program and the U.S. Clean Cities Coalition. The city saves an estimated $1,000,000 per year by fueling their fleet with CNG instead of diesel.
Universities
The University of California currently has three of their 41 buses in the transit fleet powered by compressed natural gas (CNG). They have recently ordered five new all electric hybrid CNG-fueled turbine buses. The new bus fleet will not only reduce the university's dependence on imported petroleum, but it will also be able to operate with fast charging technology in all-electric mode for extended periods of time.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact us at 1-800-GAS-2000 or ngvinfo@semprautilities.com.