It's no secret that electric semi truck adoption rates are not where many state-level environmental bodies want them to be, and that presents an opportunity for natural gas and other low carbon fuel industry players to expand.
Hexagon Agility, a specialist in bulk gas transportation solutions for commercial vehicles, has relocated its Fontana, California plant to a more modern facility in nearby Rialto. The reason? To double its fuel system assembly and installation capacity as a response to growing market demand.
“With our expanded production capabilities, our team is growing in both the Salisbury, and now in the Rialto markets,” says Hans Peter Havdal, CEO Hexagon Agility. “At Hexagon Agility, we pride ourselves on our operational resilience and responsiveness to new market opportunities. In addition to organic growth, we recently announced our acquisition of Specialty Fleet Services, a leading natural gas mobile service and inspection provider. We are ready to meet the future.”
[Related: RNG-fueled trucks 'most compelling carbon reduction strategy,' says Hexagon Agility VP]
Natural gas is an immediately available and cleaner alternative to diesel. Cummins' recently revealed next generation natural gas X15N engine is a prime example of the trucking industry's enthusiasm towards compressed and renewable natural gas. Kenworth and Peterbilt began production of trucks equipped with the X15N earlier this year. Among the leading fleets that have piloted the engine along with Hexagon Agility's natural gas fuel system includes Food Express and UPS.
Hexagon claims it has helped put close to 80,000 natural gas-powered trucks on American Roads. In contrast, there are currently less than 2,000 EV trucks on American roads
"The U.S. heavy-duty truck addressable market for natural gas solutions is expected to grow three-fold, from 100,000 vehicles/per year today, to 330,000/year starting in 2025,” added Havdal.
[Related: Renewable natural gas best diesel replacement, experts say]
What makes natural gas - particularly renewable natural gas (RNG) - so attractive to trucking is that it significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and NOx in comparison to other clean energy solutions. Another bonus is that natural gas providers like Hexagon Agility are able to access an abundant supply thanks to a vast pipeline infrastructure right here in the U.S. This makes RNG scalable and thus affordable for fleets.
Hexagon Agility previously opened a 40,000 sq ft service and installation facility in North Carolina in June 2023. The location is strategically located so that it serves as the company's East Coast warehouse and to support the expansion of Hexagon's aftersales FleetCare services.
