Leggett & Platt And Landi Renzo Announce Strategic Partnership To Produce Natural Gas Vehicles For The North American Market

Leggett & Platt Commercial Vehicle Products (L&P CVP), in continued pursuit of cutting-edge technologies and green vehicle solutions, has partnered with Landi Renzo USA to implement alternative fuel systems using compressed natural gas (CNG). Landi Renzo is the global leader in alternative fuel systems design, manufacture, installation, and service with over 40 percent global market share. L&P CVP, along with Landi Renzo, will have on display a Ford E-250 commercial van upfit with a dedicated CNG alternative fuel system at the 2011 NTEA Work Truck Show and Green Truck Summit in Indianapolis, IN, from March 7-10.

Andrea Landi, President of Landi Renzo USA, commented, "Landi Renzo is proud to be partnering with Leggett & Platt to bring cost-effective and efficient CNG upfits to the US fleet market. Their long history of innovation, high-quality standards, and process management capabilities make them an ideal partner."

CNG Benefits: Reduced Cost, Foreign Dependence and CO2 Emissions
In developing vehicles that use CNG, L&P CVP and Landi Renzo are utilizing an alternative fuel that offers significant advantages over gasoline. With latest studies estimating a U.S. supply of natural gas that will last more than a century, CNG's per-gallon equivalent is 30 percent cheaper than gasoline. As oil prices continue to increase due to diminishing supply, CNG prices face no such threat. In many areas of the country there is already infrastructure in place to effectively operate Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) and more public-access fueling stations are becoming readily available.

The second major benefit of the use of CNG is the reduced dependence on foreign oil. With an abundant domestic supply, 85 percent of all natural gas used in the U.S. is produced domestically.

Another major advantage of CNG is reduced CO2 emissions. Not only does CNG produce 25 percent less CO2 emissions than standard gasoline-powered engines, it also limits the amount of emissions released in transporting it due to its domestic production. The CNG Ford vans produced by L&P CVP meet strict SULEV emission requirements.

"The unwavering goal of L&P CVP continues to be that of meeting the changing needs and desires of our customers. To increase their efficiency, our customers have asked for alternative fuel options for their fleets and natural gas vehicles make economic sense," said John Fischer, VP New Business and Product Development for L&P CVP. "We also strive to make the conversion process seamless. For Ford vans, simply check the option code [31V – effective 4/1/11] on the vehicle order form to have it upfit with the CNG fuel system and delivered to a dealer anywhere in the country at no additional transportation cost. The conversion adds no significant time to the process."

Alternative Fuel System Installation
As a Qualified Vehicle Modifier (QVM) of Ford vehicles, L&P CVP will install Landi Renzo's CNG fuel system at its Ford ship-thru facility in Elyria, Ohio and will offer three and four tank options for installation on Ford's E-250 and E-350 Cargo and Passenger Vans. The 21 and 27 gasoline-gallon-equivalent tanks are part of a system that complies with Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standards and Regulations, is certified by the EPA and is 50-state compliant through the California Air Resources Board.

The L&P CVP/Landi Renzo CNG conversion system allows NGVs to perform just like gasoline vehicles, can be serviced by local dealers and will be backed by a comprehensive warranty.

NAFA Fleet Management Association
125 Village Blvd., Suite 200
Princeton, NJ 08540

Telephone: 609.720.0882 Fax: 609.452.8004