Natural Gas Misconceptions Dispelled

On September 16, 2009, Omnitek Peru made history by driving a natural gas powered heavy-duty commercial truck to a record altitude of 4,814 meters (15,800 feet) over the Ticlio Pass high in the Peruvian Andes, the highest paved road in the world.

The truck manufactured by the American company International Truck and Engine Company and equipped with the 275 horsepower DT530 engine, had been converted from diesel to natural gas using the Omnitek technology.

Earlier in the month another test-drive performed with the same natural gas converted vehicle, owned by Leche Gloria, confirmed the engines power and ability to transport heavy loads. The test was performed driving the vehicle on a steep road, locally known as Pasamayo, loaded to a weight of 37,000 kg (37 tons).

The high-altitude record setting drive concluded a series of tests tailored to set the record straight on some common misconceptions about natural gas engines. The tests resulted in sufficient data to show that diesel engines which are converted to operate with natural gas have enough power to transport heavy loads and can operate at very high altitudes, all while having low fuel consumption and produce much less pollution than a diesel truck. On one test-drive, the Leche Gloria truck completed the 326 km distance from Lima to Canete and back to Lima while loaded with milk to 37,000 kg, in a remarkably short time of 5 hrs, consuming only 118 cubic meters of natural gas at a cost of 164 Soles (USD 55), a savings of 60% over using diesel.

The tests were co-sponsored by Peruana de gas Natural SAC (PGN), a Peruvian natural gas supplier and Omnitek Partner. PGN is also an authorized Omnitek diesel-to-natural gas conversion center.

Source:NGV Global