Geotab and Momentum Fuel Technologies are teaming up.
The two companies announced Wednesday at Waste Expo in New Orleans that Geotab will now provide support for compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel level and temperature on all Momentum Fuel Technologies’ CNG fueling tanks and systems.
A breakthrough for the industry, the companies say fleets with CNG vehicles will now have the powerful visibility into their fuel usage and driver behavior that is already offered to other vehicles using Geotab’s fleet management solution. Additionally, the integration addresses the industry’s limited ability to use telematics to report CNG level from the vehicle for accurate fuel level readings. With a limited network of CNG stations and an average slow-fill CNG vehicle fill up taking eight to 10 hours, the companies say this insight into how much fuel a vehicle actually receives can help enable increased vehicle uptime, timely deliveries and reduce anxiety around fuel levels for fleet managers and drivers.
“The ability to support these parameters allows fleets to combat driver range anxiety in addition to providing accurate fuel usage reports by vehicle, allowing them to understand fuel usage by vehicle or by driver,” says Scott Sutarik, associate vice president, Commercial Vehicle Solutions at Geotab. “Developing this capability for CNG vehicles, which according to the U.S. Department of Energy are said to have six to 11 percent less emissions, is another step in Geotab’s long-standing commitment to creating a greener world.”
Momentum Fuel Technologies and Geotab developed the integration together using Geotab’s patented curve logic algorithm to receive high-resolution data via the vehicle’s diagnostic port. The Geotab GO device transmits data from Momentum Fuel Technologies systems via cellular networks, delivering comprehensive reports and dashboards to readily and easily visualize trends and monitor levels, the company says.
“Customer response to Momentum’s integration with Geotab has been outstanding,” says Mike Zimmerman, general manager at Momentum Fuel Technologies. “Being able to remotely monitor fuel level can greatly improve driver productivity and fuel utilization, which is important to all CNG customers, including those in the refuse industry.”
New tailgate fuel system, drop-in replacement product
On Wednesday Momentum Fuel Technologies also added a 115-diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) tailgate system and a Fuel Management Module (FMM) Drop-In Replacement to its lineup of products.
Momentum says the tailgate system has the largest fuel capacity available on the market.
“We are pleased to add to our product line another great CNG solution to meet the unique and varied needs of the refuse industry,” Zimmerman says. “We are committed to supporting the refuse industry with a complete offering of CNG options for all refuse applications.”
Momentum’s tailgate system was designed for E-Z Pack, who had previously used five- and six-tank tailgate systems on its refuse bodies. With safety and convenience in mind, Momentum says the system features a visible pressure gauge so drivers and technicians can see the pressure in the tank from ground level. The system’s tanks are at least seven feet off the ground with a steel guard structure around the base, designed to be safer in the event of a rear impact. Further, the tailgate system keeps a lower profile than other CNG configurations, for enhanced safety of refuse vehicles, the company says.
All E-Z Pack units include a vertical fuel management module (FMM), which houses the electronics, fuel filter and fuel-fill receptacles and works in conjunction with the Rush Truck Centers’ telematics platform, allowing fleet managers to monitor usage and manage fuel consumption. The vertical FMM is narrower than the version used in other Momentum configurations, taking up less valuable space on smaller truck bodies, the company says.
Regarding the new FMM drop-in replacement, Momentum says its new option houses the electronics, fuel filter and fuel-fill receptacles, and features custom bolt-on brackets to match most existing bolt holes.
“Our product was designed to easily integrate with systems as a direct replacement for other, less efficient FMMs on the market for heavy- and medium-duty vehicles,” says Zimmerman. “This drop-in option is valuable to customers who need to replace their previous FMM and want a new system which was designed with performance, serviceability and durability in mind.”
Momentum’s new FMM is also able to integrate with the vehicle’s J1939 communication network, providing improvements to engine and fuel system diagnostics, as well as improved driver feedback. Mometum says the available in-dash digital gauge provides highly-accurate fuel readings, reduces range anxiety and provides accurate distance-to-empty information to drivers.
The new system focuses on fuel efficiency with a Parker HP Regulator with integrated coalescing filter, which allow trucks to operate at a lower fuel pressure and use more of the fuel in their system. It also includes a manifold base design and NGV1 and HD fast-fill receptacles and is equipped with a highly-durable piston-style single-stage regulator, integrated heat exchanger and proprietary poppet technology. Momentum says it is optimized to operate in extreme environmental conditions while maintaining high flow across the full operating range of CNG vehicles.
For enhanced driver and technician safety, the system is easy to monitor and service. High-pressure and low-pressure gauges are easy to see, with pressure lines colored for easy identification. To further assist service providers, Momentum’s FMM works in conjunction with Rush Truck Centers’ telematics platform to monitor usage and fuel consumption, the company says.
