Isuzu Motors South Africa is busy exploring the possibilities of using alternative fuels for two of its trucks. The company is hoping to find a more sustainable option for vehicle propulsion for the African market. Isuzu is currently looking at compressed natural gas (CNG) and a dual-fuel comprising of natural gas and diesel that will work on converted truck engines.
The aim is to reduce carbon emissions associated with transport and freight on African roads. This will help the environment by minimising carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during the combustion process. Isuzu is an indirect customer of Formex Industries, purchasing some of our vehicle components from 1st Tier suppliers.
Isuzu currently testing their converted trucks
“We’ve built a handful of prototype trucks which are currently being tested in real-world conditions on South African roads by a number of Isuzu fleet customers,” says Isuzu technical services executive Dominic Rimmer. “If the testing is successful we could see more of these trucks paving the way for a greener motoring landscape in the future,” he adds.
This testing phase is set to run for the next 12 months. “Our mission is to provide transport solutions to our customers. Low-emission vehicles using alternative energy sources would be a great addition to our product portfolio,” explains Rimmer. “These trucks are not only a vital step toward reducing the emission of harmful pollutants, but they will also contribute to the more effective utilisation of limited natural resources for transportation,” he says.
How alternative fuels compare to fossil fuels
While alternative fuels are not as readily available as traditional fuels (petrol and diesel), their popularity is showing signs of growth. “We expect demand to grow as the gas refilling network is being expanded,” says Rimmer. CNG and other forms of biofuel are becoming more commonplace around the world and South Africa is following suit.
Exact prices of these alternative fuels are not yet available, however, the expectation is that the duel-fuel truck will save 10% on fuel consumption when compared to standard diesel trucks. The CNG truck will also have a 40% lower refilling price than diesel trucks. Depending on monthly mileages, the return on investment ranges between eight months and two years.
Isuzu CNG truck
Isuzu has developed the N-Series (NPR300) CNG truck that runs on compressed natural gas. This vehicle has a stop-start fuel-saving system that cuts the engine when the vehicle is stationary (like many modern vehicles have). Isuzu believes that the N-Series truck will be able to meet the demands of fleet owners and logistics companies.
CNG engines emit very low levels of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. There is virtually no smoke or soot from the exhaust pipe either. CNG produces 25% less carbon dioxide than regular combustion engines but still has the same performance statistics. It is widely regarded as a safe and environmentally-friendly fuel.
Isuzu dual-fuel truck
This vehicle is based on the FTR 850 AMT model and runs on a mixture of natural gas and diesel. A specially-designed control unit in the engine determines the optimum mixture of natural gas, diesel and air required to power the engine under different loads. This enables a dynamic fuel consumption according to the power needs of the engine at any given time.
The advantages of this system are similar to those of the CNG engine – lower emissions and more fuel efficiency. It also gives drivers the option to switch between 100% diesel or to use a mix of natural gas as well. The duel-fuel engine has similar torque and power ratings to a standard diesel engine. However, it produces less noise (through quieter revs) and costs significantly less to operate.
Image credit: MJ Bird
Formex Industries is a metal forming and assembly company that supplies a variety of complex products to the local automotive industry and the export market. The company is based in the Nelson Mandela Bay metropole, South Africa’s foremost region for automotive manufacturing and export.
Formex specialises in producing components for the catalytic converter industry, as well as metal components and assemblies for the various vehicles. Formex aims to become one of the foremost suppliers for the South African automotive industry by 2035, aligning itself with the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) which takes effect in 2020.
Formex is a Level 2 B-BBEE supplier with over 80% black ownership, of which more than 40% are black women. The company is owned by Deneb Investments Limited – a subsidiary of Hosken Consolidated Investments Limited (HCI) – one of South Africa’s biggest true B-BBEE companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn for the latest industry news and features relating to our products and services.
