Sep 1, 2003 12:00 PM

Vancouver, British Columbia-based Westport Innovations and Japan-based Isuzu Truck have introduced a new compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered commercial truck for the North American market.

This Isuzu N-series, known as the ELF in Japan, is marketed mainly at local delivery, foodservice, towing, and light construction applications.

The 4.5-liter ELF CNG-DI is a direct-injection diesel-cycle-style truck that runs completely on CNG, Westport spokesman John Cryer said.

“It has the same thermal efficiency, low-end torque, and other performance characteristics of an equivalent diesel-powered truck, but its runs quieter with far less emissions,” Cryer said.

The truck being introduced has two tons of payload capacity and is being touted for mostly city-driving areas where air quality has become a major issue, such as Los Angeles CA and Houston TX.

Cryer said both companies expect the CNG-powered truck to achieve a 12- to 18-month payback for commercial fleets because it uses lower-cost natural gas instead of diesel fuel and provides potential tax incentives to spur reductions in truck emissions.