Kenworth to Add Heavy Duty Cummins Westport ISX12 G To Complete Line of Natural Gas Engines

Kenworth Truck Co. is expanding its extensive line of industry-leading green products by offering the Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy duty natural gas engine for use in regional haul, vocational and refuse markets. This new engine requires a single fuel source and can run on either compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) natural gas.

The ISX12 G will be available with the Kenworth T660, Kenworth T800, Kenworth T800 short hood, and the Kenworth W900S. The ISX12 G will come with a range of ratings to 400 hp and 1,450 ft-lbs. of torque, optional engine brake and manual and automatic transmission capability to meet customer needs. Kenworth is showing a T660 equipped with a CNG-powered ISX12 G engine at its booth (#30305) at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville.

"Kenworth continues to work closely with Cummins Westport in the development and testing of this engine to ensure we can offer customers an engine platform that works well with Kenworth chassis," said Michelle Harry, Kenworth natural gas vehicle marketing manager. "This partnership allows us to provide trucks that offer excellent, low-emission solutions combined with outstanding efficiency, horsepower and torque."

"The ISX12 G will really complete Kenworth's line of factory-installed natural gas engines, which includes the 15-liter Westport HD and the 8.9-liter Cummins Westport ISL G," added Andy Douglas, Kenworth national sales manager for specialty markets. "The ISX12 G is a perfect size for the operational needs of those regional and refuse haulers that require a little more power and torque than offered by the ISL G, but that don't need as much as provided by the HD.

"We think the ISX12 G really opens the door for many operators in regional, refuse and pick up and delivery applications to consider natural-gas powered engines as a viable choice for an engine platform," Douglas said.

The Cummins Westport ISX12 G engine operates on either compressed natural gas or liquefied natural gas, both of which are cost effective, low carbon, and low emissions fuels. The natural gas engine uses a maintenance-free, three-way catalyst and does not require a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank, diesel particulate filter (DPF) or selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology.

With more natural gas fueling facilities opening across the United States and Canada, particularly along well-traveled corridors, and with more North American production coming on line in the months and years to come, Douglas expects natural gas to become an even much more readily accessible fuel. Already some operators are realizing significant fuel cost savings based on the current price of natural gas and diesel fuel, allowing them to recoup most or all of the additional cost associated with the natural gas engine platform through fuel savings.

"With the right spec'ing choices, many operators have the potential to realize significant reductions in emissions and fuel costs, particularly if they're replacing trucks with older diesel engines with Kenworth trucks powered by the ISX12 G," he said.

Douglas said environmental stewardship, which can be an important factor for truck operators in attracting new business, provides another reason why the ISX12 G promises to be a popular choice. The engine will allow truck operators to meet current and future environmental regulations more easily. When the ISX12 G is launched next year, Cummins Westport expects it to be certified to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board emission standards of 0.20 g/bhp-hr NOx and 0.01 g/bhp-hr PM. The engine is expected to be capable of meeting EURO VI and pending U.S. greenhouse gas and fuel economy regulations, he added.

Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World's Best® heavy and medium duty trucks. Kenworth is an industry leader in providing fuel-saving technology solutions that help increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The company's dedication to the green fleet includes aerodynamic trucks, compressed and liquefied natural gas trucks, and medium duty diesel-electric hybrids. Kenworth is the only truck manufacturer to receive the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Excellence award in recognition of its environmentally friendly products. In addition, the fuel-efficient Kenworth T700 equipped with the low-emission PACCAR MX engine was named the 2011 Heavy Duty Commercial Truck of the Year by the American Truck Dealers. Kenworth is also the recipient of the 2011 J.D. Power and Associates award for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Heavy Duty Truck Dealer Service. Kenworth's Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.