Pilot Travel Centers began operating the nation’s first two diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) fuel island pumps in preparation for serving vehicles equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR).
Located on the west coast in Brooks, Ore., and on the east coast in Charlotte, N.C., the two initial fuel island DEF pumps are fully operational and ready to serve vehicles traveling coast to coast. At a two percent consumption rate of diesel, a full tank of DEF will cover 6,000 miles.
The company plans to install the new bulk DEF pumps at 100 Pilot locations through the fourth quarter of 2009 and the second quarter of 2010. In addition to DEF pumps located along the country’s main corridors, Pilot Travel Centers will carry pre-packaged supplies of DEF at its 350 retail locations.
“The installation and operation of these first two DEF pumps mark a major milestone for Pilot and the commercial vehicle industry,” said Mark Hazelwood, executive vice president for Pilot Travel Centers. “Buying and dispensing DEF in bulk quantities allows for greater handling efficiencies and more effective DEF pricing for our customers. This adds to the economic payback of using SCR which is proven to provide up to 5 percent in fuel efficiency while reducing emissions to near-zero levels at the tailpipe.”
Initial pricing for DEF at the Pilot fuel islands is $2.69 per gallon, which is comparable to the price of diesel today. Pilot was the first travel center chain to make the commitment to offer DEF “at the pump,” according to the company. “Pilot is committed to its customers and communities. Both will be served by the fuel efficiency and near-zero emissions of SCR and enabled by DEF in 2010,” said Hazelwood.
Pilot’s roll out plans call for the installation of 100 bulk dispensing pumps at a rate of 25 pumps per quarter beginning in the third quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010.
