PSI And Peapod Showcase Clean-Fuel Fleet Vehicle

Cleantech engine supplier Power Solutions International, Inc. and online grocery-delivery service Peapod, LLC presented a clean-fuel pilot vehicle at the 2013 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in late-June.

The 6.0-liter-powered delivery truck on display was the latest addition to a pilot program that PSI began with Peapod in late 2012. In the first phase, the company outfitted four delivery trucks with 4.8-liter engines, two that ran on propane and two that ran on natural gas.

In the pilot program, the company delivered fully integrated, drop-in powertrain solutions customized to the trucks, with transmission, fuel tanks, and recommended fueling strategy. The 4.8-liter propane-powered engines featured special components including enhanced heads and valve-seat inserts, new engine-control systems, and fuel systems.

The pilot trucks were driven in a suburban Chicago service area with a 160-mile radius. To date, the pilot has yielded cost per mile results of $0.32 per mile for propane, versus a cost of $0.52 per mile for unleaded gasoline--a savings of more than 38 percent. Driver feedback has been very positive. Based on the pilot's success, Peapod is now working on a project to speed up fueling access.

The program is meant to demonstrate that clean-fuel technologies can enable the company to reduce its fleets' fuel use and resulting emissions without compromising on engine power or performance.

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