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| An early mover in compressed natural gas power for rear and front discharge concrete mixer trucks, Ozinga Bros. Inc. is well positioned to repeat that role in adsorbed natural gas-fueled light-duty models. PHOTOS: Ozinga Energy |
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| Activated-carbon chemistry supports compressed natural gas fueling systems whose low-pressure characteristics are better suited to Ford F-150 and comparable vehicles than the larger, higher psi systems typical of CNG-fueled Class 8 trucks. |
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Through a partnership with activated carbon processor Ingevity Corp., Ozinga Energy is delving deeper into diesel and gasoline alternatives to fuel light- to medium-duty trucks for its Great Lakes market operations. The compressed natural gas fueling system business of Illinois-based Ozinga Bros. Inc. recently kicked off a test of its newest concept in a Ford F-150 pickup.
In contrast to compressed natural gas (CNG), where the Ozinga Ready Mix Concrete fleet leads industry adopters with hundreds of CNG mixers across the Midwest, the adsorbed natural gas (ANG) system incorporates Ingevity’s Nuchar activated carbon to significantly lower fuel tank pressure and reduce component complexity. A companion Ingevity business, Adsorbed Natural Gas Products Inc., tailored two horizontally stacked, low-pressure tanks for forward F-150 bed mounting.
Ozinga Energy has installed a dedicated fueling appliance at its south suburban Chicago headquarters to supply the F-150 and other test or outside customer vehicles running ANG power. The appliance is part of the company’s flagship CNG fuel station which, along with four Illinois and Indiana satellites, serves the internal fleet and retail passenger or commercial vehicle customers.
ANG especially suits light-duty vehicles like pickup trucks, SUVs and service vans, a segment that has traditionally been underserved by alternative fuel options. Such systems, notes Ingevity, are 50 percent less costly to operate than a gasoline-only vehicle; increase natural gas usage for a utility by over 60 percent; and, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent compared to similar gasoline- or diesel-equipped vehicles. Data from field demonstrations and an Ingevity employee driver program continues to showcase the simplicity of fueling with low-pressure ANG appliances and highlights the value their technology brings to light-duty truck fleets. Ozinga Energy’s F-150 test follows ANG power demonstrations that Atlanta Gas Light and Sempra Energy’s SoCalGas business began in 2019.
“ANG allows Ozinga Energy to further our commitment to green fleet technologies and benefit from additional fuel savings for our light-duty trucks,” says Ozinga Bros. Vice President of Fleet Management Jeff Bonnema. “We are interested in adding more ANG trucks to our light-duty fleet, as well as the potential for future alternative-fuel growth opportunities for our business.”
“We continue to focus on building ANG pilot programs to develop a strong network of early-adopter fleets across the country,” adds Ingevity Executive Vice President Ed Woodcock. “Ozinga Energy is an important member of a growing portfolio of natural gas utility and commercial fleet owners seeking alternative fuel options for the underserved light-duty fleet market.” — Ozinga Energy, Mokena, Ill., www.ozinga.com; Ingevity Corp., North Charleston, S.C., www.ingevity.com
