RNG Accelerates Growth in the Long-Distance Trucking Sector

The journey toward adopting alternatives to diesel tractors frequently enough hits snags like range limitations and refueling infrastructure. However, recent insights suggest that renewable natural gas is paving a clearer path forward.

This option sidesteps many of the challenges faced by battery-electric vehicles.

In the U.S., natural gas vehicles consumed around 774 million gallons of gasoline equivalent in 2024, according to The Transport Project’s latest figures released in late June.

An impressive 86% of these vehicles were powered by RNG last year, despite the U.S. being the top producer of conventional natural gas globally in that same year.

The common metric for compressed natural gas at public fueling stations is measured in gasoline gallon equivalents (GGE). For reference, one diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) equals approximately 1.136 GGE as diesel contains about 13.6% more energy than gasoline.

By the end of this year, North America’s RNG production capacity is projected to hit an astounding 604 million cubic feet per day—an increase driven by critically important growth over recent years as noted by Wood Mackenzie analysts.

(U.S. Gain via RNG Coalition)

the X15N engine from Cummins has been designed with various fuel storage options ranging from back-of-cab systems holding between 60 DGE and up to175 DGE capacities; side or rail-mounted tanks are also available for those needing between30 and100 DGE capacities.

This flexibility allows tractors equipped with this engine to meet long-haul demands effectively.

CNG and RNG have traditionally been favored for refuse trucks and school buses; however, that’s changing thanks to innovations like the X15N engine. Daimler Truck North America recently opened orders for Freightliner Cascadia tractors—America’s best-selling Class 8 on-highway tractor—powered by this new technology after announcing it would be available back in October last year!

the X15N isn’t just limited to Freightliner; it’s also compatible with Kenworth’s T680 and T880 models along with Peterbilt’s semi-trucks including their vocational series!

Cummins kicked off serial production of its X15N engine in September last year claiming it rivals their most powerful diesel engines while offering up to500 horsepower alongside1,850 pound-feet torque!

(Dairy Cares)

The buzz surrounding cleaner fuels was palpable at the recent Advanced Clean Transportation Expo held in Anaheim! Industry leaders discussed how U.S.-based RNG producers will need ramped-up production levels—around115 million gallons—to meet market expectations set forth by Cummins’ ambitions for its new engine model according CEO Andrew Littlefair during his talk at ACT Expo! Clean energy Fuels based out Newport Beach stands tall as America’s largest supplier within this sector!