Freightliner and longtime partner reach contract
A new agreement between Freightliner and Agility Fuel Systems is the latest development in Daimler AG’s global “Shaping Future Transportation” initiative. As a part of the Daimler family, Freightliner is working to incorporate green technologies into its truck design and manufacturing processes. This new agreement expands the company’s 13-year partnership with Agility Fuel Systems, making them Freightliner’s sole provider of natural gas fuel systems.
What drives both companies to deliver the best solutions to their customers is a shared vision of using innovation, according to Mary Aufdemberg, Freightliner Trucks director of product marketing. She expect that “this partnership will help us evolve as the industry continues to embrace natural gas as a viable option.”
Co-location contributes to production and cost efficiencies
Although Agility Fuel Systems is based in Santa Ana, California, the company is now building a new manufacturing facility in Salisbury, NC, specifically to be near Freightliner’s production plants in Mt. Holly and Cleveland, NC. Agility’s new facility, expected to come on line late this year, will produce custom-designed fuel systems using either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Freightliner Cascadia 113, M2 112 and 114SD trucks manufactured in North Carolina.
“We have been collaborating with Freightliner since 2002, and in 2009 we began the industry’s first on-line factory installation of our natural gas fuel systems,” notes Barry Engle, CEO of Agility Fuel Systems. “We have worked as partners ever since to drive natural gas adoption rates in the heavy duty trucking industry. We are thrilled by the signing of this long-term agreement and to be able to serve the Freightliner plants and dealers from our world class facility in Salisbury, North Carolina.”
Because of its nearby location and because it is being designed as the industry’s first vertically integrated natural gas fuel system production plant, Agility’s North Carolina facility will enable Freightliner to offer top-quality, innovative natural gas technologies at the best possible price and with shorter lead times.
Now in its 8th year, Daimler’s Shaping Future Transportation initiative focuses on reducing fuel consumption, carbon dioxide and certain pollutants by using clean, efficient drive systems. That includes clean diesel as well as alternative fuels such as natural gas. There are currently more than 6,000 Freightliner natural gas heavy-duty trucks on the road.