ASV expands natural gas vehicle offerings

ORLANDO, Fla. — Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV) has formed an exclusive partnership with alternative-fuel technology supplier Westport.

The partnership expands the availability of the compressed natural gas (CNG) Westport WiNG Power System to ASV’s commercial buses, emergency vehicles and other products. The Westport CNG system is currently an option on ASV's Type A school buses manufactured by Collins Bus.

"Our customers are demanding environmentally friendly vehicles powered by clean alternative-fuel systems that reduce carbon emissions," ASV President and CEO Tim Sullivan said. "The ability to expand the availability of the Westport CNG system to other ASV vehicle lines not only demonstrates our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, but it also allows us to offer the first factory-certified OEM solution for one-stop installations of alternative-fuel systems."

The Westport WiNG Power System is a dedicated natural gas fuel system for light-duty specialty vehicles built on Ford truck chassis and backed by a Ford factory three-year/36,000-mile engine and powertrain warranty.

Company officials said that Westport designed its system to meet Ford's OEM standards. Westport also conducts OEM-approved safety testing, including simulations and physical crash tests that meet or exceed OEM and U.S. federal safety standards.

"With the distinct price benefits of natural gas, we're excited to offer a CNG-powered product across multiple ASV vehicle platforms," said Paul Shaffer, Westport Dallas vice president. "Historically, prices of alternative fuels, especially CNG, are more stable and generally lower than gas and diesel fuel prices that regularly fluctuate up and down, creating a strategic long-term budgeting advantage for fleet vehicle owners."

Westport WiNG Power Systems are primarily installed in Dallas. However, company officials said that the systems will be transitioned to ASV factory-certified installations to increase vehicle manufacturing efficiency.

ASV also recently announced a partnership with CleanFUEL USA to expand its line of propane autogas vehicles.