By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — The city of Trussville will likely purchase 11 Ford F-250 trucks that run on compressed natural gas.
Trussville Mayor Gene Melton said last month that most city trucks are “strung out” due to their old age.
Melton said the trucks will cost about $35,900 each and they will be used by Public Works (2), Inspections Department (3), the Trussville Police Department (3) and Trussville Parks and Recreation (3).
A Trussville Police Department Ford F-250 truck outside Paine Intermediate School
file photo by Gary Lloyd
The city of Trussville already uses CNG to operate about 40 city vehicles, from Chevrolet Tahoes for the Trussville Police Department to dump trucks for the Parks and Recreation Department. Those vehicles fuel up at the Chevron on Deerfoot Parkway, where the public can also use the CNG dispenser.
Melton has said that a domestic fuel source is less financially insecure than a foreign one. CNG vehicles can accumulate up to 15,000 miles between oil changes and require less maintenance than traditional fuel-burning vehicles, Melton said.
The gas is pressurized to 3,600 psi and in the event of a fuel tank breach, it simply dissipates rather than igniting. The CNG pump connects much like a larger version of a tire pump and is air-tight. The pump constantly monitors the amount of fuel entering the vehicle and adjusts pressure accordingly.
The compression tanks that hold the CNG can fill 10 large city vehicles before running out. The pumps then shut off for about eight minutes until they automatically and completely refill.
“We’re saving a ton of money now with CNG,” Melton said.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.
