Use of Alternative Fuel Concrete Trucks in Construction

The issue of sustainability often focuses on reducing energy or water requirements of completed facilities, or the use of recycled materials in construction. However, the construction process itself is energy intensive, and opportunities exist to reduce those energy requirements. This paper investigates the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel in concrete mixer trucks, and evaluates the circumstances under which this alternative fuel approach would be desirable. CNG is an alternative fuel that could be used to improve the environmental performance of the construction process. The advantages and disadvantages of CNG as a heavy truck fuel compared to diesel are evaluated, including safety considerations. It is necessary to develop a business model for a contractor to adopt the CNG truck technology. Case studies of companies in the U.S. and Australia that have adopted CNG concrete mixer trucks are reviewed. To develop data for the case studies, email and telephone interviews were conducted with one US manufacturer of CNG concrete mixer trucks and three ready mixed concrete companies that use the trucks. The two U.S. ready mixed concrete companies were located in California and in New York State, in two very different business and regulatory environments. It is estimated that CNG concrete mixer trucks are economically feasible if diesel fuel is consistently at or above $ 4.50 per gallon ($ 1.20 per liter) in price. Based on similar analysis, it is possible to evaluate the economic feasibility of converting other heavy construction vehicles to CNG power.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Delatte, Norbert
  • Ritossa, Michael
  • Bashford, Howard H
  • Thompson, Jacqueline D
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 91st Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2012-1-22 to 2012-1-26
• Date: 2012

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: TRB 91st Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers DVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Alternatives analysis; Case studies; Compressed natural gas; Concrete mixers; Economic analysis; Heavy duty trucks
• Subject Areas: Construction; Energy; Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I15: Environment; I61: Equipment and Maintenance Methods;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01372594
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 12-1641
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Jun 14 2012 10:56AM