The EPA has approved a diesel-to-CNG (compressed natural gas) dedicated package for the diesel International DT466 series engine, according to the two CNG vehicle companies offering the package.

NGV Motori USA and Clean Vehicle Solutions LLC partnered to bring the diesel-to-CNG conversion package to the intermediate class vehicle market.

Company officials called the news “an important landmark” because of the DT466 series engine’s popularity in the school/transit bus and delivery truck markets.

The companies have already partnered to engineer, fabricate and install what they said was the first EPA-certified, dedicated diesel-to-CNG conversion package for the Mercedes 906 engine.

“This new DT466 package significantly expands the number of vehicles that can now utilize clean, less-polluting fuel in the nation’s large metropolitan areas,” company officials said.

Conversions can be done on any of the diesel DT466 series engines from model years 2005 to 2010.

The NGV Motori/Clean Vehicle Solutions partnership is also making available an EPA-certified, CNG dedicated conversion for the Ford E-450 Super Duty 6.8L V10 engine and the E-350 Super Duty 5.4L gas engine. Models created up through 2007 are eligible for conversion.

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