Test drive: Peterbilt Model 536 with Cummins L9N natural gas engine
Electrification and hydrogen are clearly the ways of the future for motor carriers seeking to shrink their carbon footprint, but lost in all the excitement and innovation in battery electrics and hydrogen fuel cells is a very much here-and-now solution that's been around for generations: natural gas.
Fleets bemoaning the current cost of diesel fuel – and feeling pressure from customers' environmental, social and governance plans – already have a reliefoutlet with compressed natural gas (CNG).
Prices at the pump vary significantly across various states but, for the most part, a diesel gallon equivalent of CNG can be had for about half the cost. However, while offering a Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction of about 20% compared to a modern diesel engine, CNG is not a zero-emission solution.
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About the Alternative Fueling Station Data
Learn about the station location data collection methods, update schedules, and station details.
The data in the Alternative Fueling Station Locator are gathered and verified through a variety of methods. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) obtains information about new stations from trade media, Clean Cities coordinators, the Submit New Station form on the Station Locator website, and through collaborating with infrastructure equipment and fuel providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and industry groups.
Users submitting updates through the "Submit New Station" or "Report a Change" forms will receive an email confirmation of their submittal. NREL will verify station details before the station is added or updated in the Station Locator. The turnaround time for updates will depend on the completeness of the information provided, as well as the responsiveness of the station or point of contact.
NREL regularly compares its station data with those of other relevant trade organizations and websites. Differences in methodologies, data confirmation, and inclusion criteria may result in slight variations between NREL's database and those maintained by other organizations. NREL also collaborates with alternative fuel industry groups to identify discrepancies in data and develop data sharing processes and best practices. NREL and its data collection subcontractor are currently collaborating with natural gas, electric drive, biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen, and propane industry groups to ensure best practices are being followed for identifying new stations and confirming station changes in the most-timely manner possible.
Station Update Schedule
Existing stations in the database are contacted at least once a year on an established schedule to verify they are still operational and providing the fuel specified. Based on an established data collection schedule, the database is updated on an ongoing basis. Stations that are no longer operational or no longer provide alternative fuel are removed from the database as they are identified.
Beginning in 2021, public, non-networked electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be proactively verified every other year, with half of the EV charging stations verified each year. This adjustment is to accommodate the growing number of EV charging stations in the Station Locator. NREL will continue to make updates to any station record if changes are reported.
Mapping and Counting Methods
Each point on the map is counted as one station in the station count. A station appears as one point on the map, regardless of the number of fuel dispensers or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ports at that location. Station addresses are geocoded and mapped using an automatic geocoding application. The geocoding application returns the most accurate location based on the provided address. Station locations may also be provided by external sources (e.g., station operators) and/or verified in a geographic information system (GIS) tool. This information is considered highly accurate, and these coordinates override any information generated using the geocoding application.
Notes about Specific Station Types
Private Stations
The Station Locator defaults to searching only for public stations. To include private stations in the search, use the Station button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Stations with an access listing of "Private - Fleet customers only" may allow other entities to fuel through a business-to-business arrangement. For more information, fleet customers should refer to the information listed in the details section for that station and contact the station directly.
The Station Locator includes information on private fleet fueling stations (e.g., transit bus fueling facilities, other medium- and heavy-duty fueling and charging infrastructure), workplace charging stations, and multi-family housing charging stations. Note that information on these stations is not always published online or in the data download but may be tracked only in the backend Station Locator database. Information tracked only in the backend database may be provided by request to the webmaster listed in the "More Information" section below.
Planned and Temporarily Unavailable Stations
NREL collects and publishes data on planned station locations, particularly those that are sited and have begun the installation process. In addition, the Station Locator includes stations that are temporarily out of service or offline with plans to open again in the future. To include planned and temporarily unavailable stations in the search results, use the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Biodiesel Stations
The Station Locator only includes stations offering biodiesel blends of 20% (B20) and above for a certain period of time during the year. The available blends at each station location are displayed when the station location is selected.
EV Charging Stations
Each point on the map is counted as one station in the station count. The number of EVSE ports and types of connectors available at each station location are displayed in the details page for each station location. Users may search by charger types, connectors, and networks using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
NREL is in the process of transitioning EV charging station counting logic to align with the hierarchy defined in the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) protocol: station location, EVSE port, and connector. With this transition, NREL is updating the number of EVSE ports (formerly called charging outlets) in the Stations Locator, which represents the number of vehicles that can charge simultaneously at a station location. The Station Locator also identifies the available connector types. Both the total number of station locations and EVSE ports appear in the EV charging search results on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
The Station Locator imports Blink, ChargePoint, Electrify America, EVgo, FLO, Greenlots, OpConnect, SemaConnect, and Webasto network station data directly from these networks on a daily basis. Please note there may be variations in the formatting of API stations from other alternative fuels in the Station Locator. Also note, NREL cannot edit station information for the networks listed above. To suggest edits to these stations, please contact the charging network directly with the recommended changes. For network contact information, please contact the webmaster listed in the "More Information" section below.
As the above networks transition to the OCPI protocol, NREL works with each to integrate their OCPI-based API. This transition may result in increases to station counts because of the way that station data are shared under the protocol; one station may be split out into several new stations to represent different physical locations of EV chargers at one address (e.g., opposite sides of one parking lot). While the new stations may share the same street address, they may have different coordinates.
Please Note: Residential EV charging locations and "wall outlets" not designated for vehicle charging are not included in the Station Locator, but workplace charging locations are.
Ethanol (E85) Stations
The Station Locator includes stations offering high-level ethanol-gasoline blends (E85). Users may limit their search to E85 stations offering mid-level blends, such as E30, by using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Propane (Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG) Stations
Because many public propane stations serve customers other than drivers and fleets, NREL collaborated with propane industry partners to establish and represent the differences. Each public propane station is designated as a "primary" or "secondary" service type, with both types able to fuel propane vehicles. However, locations with a "primary" designation offer vehicle-specific fueling capabilities.
Public locations with the "primary" designation must be staffed during regular business hours and must not require drivers to call ahead in order to fuel. Primary stations must also accept credit cards or fleet cards as a payment type. To be considered "primary," the station must be able to fuel vehicles at a rate of 8-12 gallons per minute or faster, or at a rate similar to filling a gasoline vehicle.
Service designations are available in the details page for each public station. The Station Locator defaults to showing only public "primary" stations. Users may expand their search to include all propane stations by using the "Include stations with limited vehicle fueling" checkbox after choosing propane as a fuel or select this same option in the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Note that several states, including Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, require or allow in-state propane vehicles to obtain a decal in lieu of paying state fuel taxes at the pump. Out-of-state vehicles may still be subject to taxes at the pump. Determinations about price differential are made assuming that the vehicle has an in-state decal. For more information about state decals and similar laws and regulations, visit the AFDC Laws & Incentives database.
Natural Gas Stations
Some compressed and liquefied natural gas stations are not able to fuel larger vehicles due to access limitations, such as a low canopy, insufficient parking adjacent to the pump, or limited space to maneuver. Natural gas station details include vehicle accessibility information, specifically the vehicle classes that can physically access the fueling infrastructure. Please note, this field does not take into account station capacity, throughput, or other considerations. Options include:
Accommodates passenger vehicles only (Class 1-2).
Accommodates medium-duty vehicles (Class 3-5).
Accommodates heavy-duty vehicles (Class 6-8).
Accommodates all vehicle sizes and classes.
Compressed natural gas stations also list fill type and fill pressure in the details page. These fields are also searchable using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Hydrogen Stations
Fuel cell electric vehicle drivers have access to hydrogen stations in certain areas of the country. Because this technology is in the early commercialization stages, the status of hydrogen fueling stations may change more frequently than other fuel types. To allow users to monitor station status more closely, hydrogen stations now indicate whether or not they have reduced fueling capacity.
NREL collaborated with industry groups to revisit the definition of public hydrogen stations and refined the Station Locator data to differentiate between stations that are only available to a certain subset of customers (e.g., require an access card, PIN, or training) and those that are considered retail locations (e.g., accept payment at the point of sale). Access designations are available in the details page for each public station. The Station Locator defaults to showing only public retail stations. Users may expand their search to include all public hydrogen stations by selecting the "Include non-retail stations" checkbox.
Caution: The AFDC recommends users verify a station is open, available to the public, and has the desired alternative fuel prior to making a trip to that location.
Data Collection Methods
The data in the Alternative Fueling Station Locator are gathered and verified through a variety of methods. National Resources Canada (NRCan) obtains information about new stations from trade media, the Submit New Station form on the Station Locator website, and through collaborating with infrastructure equipment and fuel providers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and industry groups.
Users submitting updates through the "Submit New Station" or "Report a Change" forms will receive an email confirmation of their submittal. NRCan will verify station details before the station is added or updated in the Station Locator. The turnaround time for updates will depend on the completeness of the information provided, as well as the responsiveness of the station or point of contact.
NRCan regularly compares its station data with those of other relevant trade organizations and websites. Differences in methodologies, data confirmation, and inclusion criteria may result in slight variations between NRCan's database and those maintained by other organizations. NRCan also collaborates with alternative fuel industry groups to identify discrepancies in data and develop data sharing processes and best practices. NRCan and its data collection subcontractor are currently collaborating with alternative fuel industry groups to ensure best practices are being followed for identifying new stations and confirming station changes in the most-timely manner possible.
Station Update Schedule
Existing stations in the database are contacted at least once a year on an established schedule to verify they are still operational and providing the fuel specified. Based on an established data collection schedule, the database is updated on an ongoing basis. Stations that are no longer operational or no longer provide alternative fuel are removed from the database as they are identified.
Beginning in 2021, public, non-networked electric vehicle (EV) charging stations will be proactively verified every other year, with half of the EV charging stations verified each year. This adjustment is to accommodate the growing number of EV charging stations in the Station Locator. NRCan will continue to make updates to any station record if changes are reported.
Mapping and Counting Methods
Each point on the map is counted as one station in the station count. A station appears as one point on the map, regardless of the number of fuel dispensers or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ports at that location. Station addresses are geocoded and mapped using an automatic geocoding application. The geocoding application returns the most accurate location based on the provided address. Station locations may also be provided by external sources (e.g., station operators) and/or verified in a geographic information system (GIS) tool. This information is considered highly accurate, and these coordinates override any information generated using the geocoding application.
Notes about Specific Station Types
Private Stations
The Station Locator defaults to searching only for public stations. To include private stations in the search, use the Station button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Stations with an access listing of "Private - Fleet customers only" may allow other entities to fuel through a business-to-business arrangement. For more information, fleet customers should refer to the information listed in the details section for that station and contact the station directly.
The Station Locator includes information on private fleet fueling stations (e.g., transit bus fueling facilities, other medium- and heavy-duty fueling and charging infrastructure) and workplace charging stations. Note that information on these stations is not always published online or in the data download but may be tracked only in the backend Station Locator database. Information tracked only in the backend database may be provided by request to the webmaster listed in the "More Information" section below.
Planned and Temporarily Unavailable Stations
NRCan collects and publishes data on planned station locations, particularly those that are sited and have begun the installation process. In addition, the Station Locator includes stations that are temporarily out of service or offline with plans to open again in the future. To include planned and temporarily unavailable stations in the search results, use the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Biodiesel Stations
The Station Locator only includes stations offering biodiesel blends of 20% (B20) and above for a certain period of time during the year. The available blends at each station location are displayed when the station location is selected.
EV Charging Stations
Each point on the map is counted as one station in the station count. The number of EVSE ports and types of connectors available at each station location are displayed in the details page for each station location. Users may search by charger types, connectors, and networks using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
NRCan is in the process of transitioning EV charging station counting logic to align with the hierarchy defined in the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI) protocol: station location, EVSE port, and connector. With this transition, NRCan is updating the number of EVSE ports (formerly called charging outlets) in the Stations Locator, which represents the number of vehicles that can charge simultaneously at a station location. The Station Locator also identifies the available connector types. Both the total number of station locations and EVSE ports appear in the EV charging search results on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
The Station Locator imports ChargePoint, Circuit électrique, FLO, Greenlots, and SemaConnect network station data directly from these networks on a daily basis. Please note there may be variations in the formatting of API stations from other alternative fuels in the Station Locator. Also note, NRCan cannot edit station information for the networks listed above. To suggest edits to these stations, please contact the charging network directly with the recommended changes. For network contact information, please contact the webmaster listed in the "More Information" section below.
As the above networks transition to the OCPI protocol, NRCan works with each to integrate their OCPI-based API. This transition may result in increases to station counts because of the way that station data are shared under the protocol; one station may be split out into several new stations to represent different physical locations of EV chargers at one address (e.g., opposite sides of one parking lot). While the new stations may share the same street address, they may have different coordinates.
Please Note: Residential EV charging locations and "wall outlets" not designated for vehicle charging are not included in the Station Locator, but workplace charging locations are.
Ethanol (E85) Stations
The Station Locator includes stations offering high-level ethanol-gasoline blends (E85). Users may limit their search to E85 stations offering mid-level blends, such as E30, by using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Propane (Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG) Stations
Many public propane stations serve customers other than drivers and fleets. To represent the differences, each public propane station is designated as a "primary" or "secondary" service type, with both types able to fuel propane vehicles. However, locations with a "primary" designation offer vehicle-specific fueling capabilities.
Public locations with the "primary" designation must be staffed during regular business hours and must not require drivers to call ahead in order to fuel. Primary stations must also accept credit cards or fleet cards as a payment type. To be considered "primary," the station must be able to fuel vehicles at a rate of 30-45 litres (8-12 gallons) per minute or faster, or at a rate similar to filling a gasoline vehicle.
Service designations are available in the details page for each public station. The Station Locator defaults to showing only public "primary" stations. Users may expand their search to include all propane stations by using the "Include stations with limited vehicle fueling" checkbox after choosing propane as a fuel or select this same option in the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Natural Gas Stations
Some compressed and liquefied natural gas stations are not able to fuel larger vehicles due to access limitations, such as a low canopy, insufficient parking adjacent to the pump, or limited space to maneuver. Natural gas station details include vehicle accessibility information, specifically the vehicle classes that can physically access the fueling infrastructure. Please note, this field does not take into account station capacity, throughput, or other considerations. Options include:
Accommodates passenger vehicles only (Class 1-2).
Accommodates medium-duty vehicles (Class 3-5).
Accommodates heavy-duty vehicles (Class 6-8).
Accommodates all vehicle sizes and classes.
Compressed natural gas stations also list fill type and fill pressure in the details page. These fields are also searchable using the Fuel button on the "Advanced Filters" tab.
Hydrogen Stations
Fuel cell electric vehicle drivers may have access to hydrogen stations in certain areas of the country. Because this technology is in the early commercialization stages, the status of hydrogen fueling stations may change more frequently than other fuel types. To allow users to monitor station status more closely, hydrogen stations now indicate whether or not they have reduced fueling capacity.
The Station Locator data differentiates between public hydrogen stations that are only available to a certain subset of customers (e.g., require an access card, PIN, or training) and those that are considered retail locations (e.g., accept payment at the point of sale). Access designations are available in the details page for each public station. The Station Locator defaults to showing only public retail stations. Users may expand their search to include all public hydrogen stations by selecting the "Include non-retail stations" checkbox.
For more information about the data, contact the webmaster.
Caution: NRCan recommends users verify a station is open, available to the public, and has the desired alternative fuel prior to making a trip to that location.
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Charging Infrastructure Terminology
The Alternative Fueling Station Locator uses the following charging infrastructure definitions:
Station Location: A station location is a site with one or more EVSE ports at the same address. Examples include a parking garage or a mall parking lot.
EVSE Port: An EVSE port provides power to charge only one vehicle at a time even though it may have multiple connectors. The unit that houses EVSE ports is sometimes called a charging post, which can have one or more EVSE ports.
Connector: A connector is what is plugged into a vehicle to charge it. Multiple connectors and connector types (such as CHAdeMO and CCS) can be available on one EVSE port, but only one vehicle will charge at a time. Connectors are sometimes called plugs.
Level 1 charging is a 120V standard wall plug using a J1772 connector. Provides 2 to 5 miles of range per 1 hour of charging.
J1772
Level 2
Level 2 charging uses 240V/208V for residential or commercial charging using a J1772 connector. Provides 10 to 20 miles of range per 1 hour of charging.
J1772
DC Fast
There are three types of DC fast charging systems depending on the type of charge port on the vehicle. Provides 60 to 80 miles of range per 20 minutes of charging.
The natural gas infrastructure is also not expansive by any measure. As of 2021, there were nearly 900 public CNG fueling stations in the U.S., according to the Department of Energy, but its footprint is fairly widespread sans a natural gas no man's land in the Dakotas, Montana and most of Idaho.
By comparison, the DOE estimates there are roughly 55,000 Level 2 and DC Fast Charging EV stations coast-to-coast. While there is a massive cluster in California, the number of EV terminals across the rest of the U.S. is signifiant.
Natural gas for now, EV for later?
Peterbilt has been building medium-duty trucks for 27 years, and the company claims that 95% of that truck population is still in service. The company refreshed its medium-duty line about a year ago, but that process is ongoing. Peterbilt is phasing in a new hood design that aligns more closely with the brand identity found on its on-highway flagship models, adding a signature fender valley and dual-side air intakes – style features absent on prior medium-duty models.
Once my Model 536 rolled off the Peterbilt assembly line (equipped with the "old-style" hood), it was shuttled next door where it got its CNG upfit from Momentum. It still needed a 26-foot box, but I wasn't making any deliveries so I jumped in.
Momentum Fuel Technologies' upfit facility is next to Peterbilt's Denton, Texas assembly plant.Peterbilt offers two natural gas powertrain options in its medium-duty line: the Cummins B6.7N (as of March this year) and the L9N. My test truck was outfitted with the in-line six cylinder, spark-ignited, L9N for the horsepower bump. The B6.7N is rated for 200 to 240 hp and 520-560 lb-ft torque, compared to the L9N's 250 to 320 hp and 660 to 1000 lb-ft torque. My truck was spec'd to 300 hp at 2,100 RPM and 860 lb-ft torque at 1300.
This Class 6 truck was configured to run from a distribution center and make multiple stops before heading back, so Peterbilt's Medium-duty Product Marketing Manager Phil Hall and I headed out on about a 90-minute route that mixed some urban with some on-highway driving and a lot of left- and right-hand turns, all wrapped up in a blend of stop-and-go traffic and highway speed cruising.
Inside, the natural gas version of the Pete Model 536 looks just like the diesel version – mostly. The cab featured a methane detection system (natural gas engines emit unburned methane because catalytic converters operate less efficiently at low temperature). Otherwise, it's the same. The dash layout is customizable by application with available space for optional gauges, switches and RAM mounts. My truck was outfitted with Allison's 3000 Highway Series, so the customary push-button shifter was affixed to my wing panel.
The aluminum cab is 8 inches wider than the old 1.9-meter cab and has room for three adults. It features a floor height of 40.5 inches and a roof height of 74 inches. Phil and I are fairly average size guys (for truck drivers, anyway), and the cab was comfortable with room to spare. In its redesign, Peterbilt moved things like RAM mounts and cup holders – both of which traditionally have crowded the passenger's side of the cab – more center of the dash and away from the passenger's knee.
The cab also sits three inches lower, improving ingress and egress, and stair-style steps and knurled-grab handles improve safety. Once this truck is deployed to its customer, I think they'll find climbing in and out of it four dozen times a day less physically taxing.
Injection molded body panels are scratch/scuff and glare resistant, and they resist warping in the summer heat – handy features since it was a broiling 98 degrees when we hopped in the cab.
Visibility is excellent. The truck has a turning radius of about 51 feet. This isn't a small vehicle but it maneuvers like one a lot smaller than its 109" BBC.
A 7-inch graphic display screen is smartly centered in the instrument cluster, splitting the speed-o and tachometer.
Steering was light, and there's almost a nimbleness to the low-end power and its quick acceleration. Yes, we were missing the box body and its corresponding payload, but this truck is almost always going to cube out before it grosses out. With 300 hp at my disposal, I don't foresee any challenges at 26,000 GVWR.
The engine responds and sounds exactly like you'd expect from its diesel counterpart. Worth noting: the L9N – certified to the California Air Resources Board and Environmental Protection Agency's Optional Low NOx emissions standard of 0.02 g/bhp-hr – has 90% fewer NOx emissions than the current North American EPA standard.
If I didn't know in advance this was a natural gas powertrain, I wouldn't have been able to tell from the driver's seat. And I think that's the biggest complement you can give an unconventional powertrain solution: that it doesn't feel or act unconventional at all.
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Momentum Fuel Technologies' upfit facility is next to Peterbilt's Denton, Texas assembly plant.
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