Richmond Says ‘Yes’ to CNG-Powered Refuse Trucks
DODGE CENTER, Minn. – McNeilus Companies, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation (NYSE: OSK) company, is excited to announce that it is supplying the City of Richmond, Va., with its first 25 compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered refuse vehicles.
“We will realize a $1 million savings in fuel costs, maintenance and personnel through the use of these new McNeilus CNG-powered refuse vehicles,” said Letitia Shelton, Richmond interim public works director. “McNeilus will further assist the city by providing a complete maintenance program for these vehicles.”
As a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities program — a government-industry partnership formed to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector — Richmond saw an opportunity to make a difference through the use of alternative-fuel-powered vehicles.
“We took this opportunity to analyze our overall fleet and how we ran our routes and realized we could shift from low-compaction trucks to a smaller number of higher-compaction trucks,” Shelton said. “This will reduce the refuse truck fleet from 38 to 25 and our routes from 109 to 88. We will also realize a savings in fuel and personnel costs.”
Shelton said that employee morale has increased considerably with the anticipation of the new trucks, which are scheduled to begin arriving in January 2011.
To further streamline Richmond’s move to CNG, the city is installing its own CNG fueling station, which will refuel not only refuse vehicles but public transit buses.
“We are thrilled that Richmond is taking advantage of a domestically produced fuel source to power its new McNeilus CNG fleet,” said Frank Nerenhausen, Oshkosh Corporationexecutive vice president and president of the Commercial Group and McNeilus. “McNeilus continues to make it very easy for customers throughout the country to migrate to CNG-powered vehicles through our integrated manufacturing process.”
Hundreds of McNeilus CNG refuse vehicles are currently on routes throughout the country, with large concentrations along both coasts. McNeilus’ CNG products are part of the company’s larger Ngen™ Initiatives, which promote alternative fuels, fuel-saving innovations and composite products. McNeilus is proud to feature Allison transmissions and Cummins ISL-G engines as part of the Ngen CNG vehicle offering.
About McNeilus: McNeilus Companies, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK] company, is a leading manufacturer of refuse truck bodies and concrete mixers. For more information on the company, go to www.mcneiluscompanies.com.
About Oshkosh Corporation: Oshkosh Corporation is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of specialty access equipment, commercial, fire & emergency and military vehicles and vehicle bodies. Oshkosh Corp. manufactures, distributes and services products under the brands of Oshkosh®, JLG®, Pierce®, McNeilus®, Medtec®, Jerr-Dan®, Oshkosh Specialty Vehicles, Frontline™, SMIT™, CON-E-CO®, London® and IMT®. Oshkosh products are valued worldwide in businesses where high quality, superior performance, rugged reliability and long-term value are paramount. For more information, go to www.oshkoshcorporation.com.
®, ™ All brand names referred to in this news release are trademarks of Oshkosh Corporation or its subsidiary companies.
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