COMMENT: US truckers’ ‘dash to gas’ spurs lively cost arguments

For truck and bus operators in North America, switching from diesel to natural gas (NG) is an attractive proposition in terms of cutting fuel costs. Bulk diesel is currently priced around US$4 per US gallon (US$1.06 per litre), whereas the comparable ‘gallon equivalent’ price of NG is about US$2.50 (66c per litre) - a near 40% saving. There is also an emissions bonus. Exhaust particulates are virtually nil and greenhouse gases are reduced by some 20% from an engine fuelled with 100% NG, though the emissions are cut less dramatically in the case of a dual-fuel engine relying on a diesel ‘pilot’ to maintain combustion.