New natural gas, dual-fuel glider kit available from Fitzgerald, APG

Updated Mar 22, 2013

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American Power Group, Inc. announced a partnership with Fitzgerald Glider Kits and WheelTime to offer the nation’s first natural gas dual fuel glider. APG is debuting the glider at its booth at The Mid-America Truck Show this week.

The unit will be available on June 1.

“We expect the 2013 Fitzgerald/APG Dual Fuel Glider to become one of most innovative and exciting new Class 8 vehicles on the road, with 20 to 30 percent lower net fuel costs as compared to standard diesel engines and up to 70 percent lower annual maintenance costs,” says Lyle Jensen APG president and CEO.

“The introduction of a Dual Fuel Glider, coupled with the resources provided by the Fitzgerald/WheelTime Network/APG collaboration, could be the game-changer that accelerates the transition of Class 8 truck fleets to natural gas as an alternative fuel.”

​APG says the Fitzgerald glider kit is basically a new truck delivered without an engine, transmission or accessory components and parts. Fitzgerald works with Freightliner and offers a variety of new model year Columbia and Coronado cab options. APG says Fitzgerald assembles gliders with rebuilt Detroit Series 60 12.7 liter engines from the WheelTime Network and remanufactured transmissions from Eaton Fuller.

By adding APG’s V5000 Turbocharged Natural Gas System to a Fitzgerald Glider, APG says customers can realize the additional benefits of today’s favorable price spread between diesel fuel and natural gas.

Typical net annual fuel savings when operating on APG’s patented dual fuel technology range from 20 to 30 percent compared to standard diesel operation. APG says it will secure “EPA OUL Approval” for the Detroit Series 60 engine family in accordance with the EPA Clean Alternative Fuel Vehicle and Engine Conversion Regulations.

APG also says it will market and service the APG Dual Fuel add-on option through its recently announced national WheelTime Network Authorized Dealer Network of nearly 200 service centers, 2,800 service bays and 3,000 factory-trained technicians.

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The APG system is a cost-effective and non-invasive patented turbocharged natural gas dual fuel conversion technology, the company says. The system is said to displace a large percent of diesel with either CNG or LNG, uses normal diesel oil, allows a vehicle to retain existing diesel maintenance cycles, and offers a 300-800 mile dual fuel range with no loss of power and torque, depending on the route profile and tank configuration. No high-temperature parts or custom high-pressure fuel injectors are required.

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The APG system is currently EPA-approved for 110 OUL engine families and APG says it is expected to receive EPA approval for more than 100 additional OUL and IUL engine families by the end of calendar 2013. Additionally, the APG system offers the flexibility to return a vehicle to 100 percent diesel operation at any time.

“In addition to providing fleet owners the opportunity to convert and upgrade their existing diesel fleet to APG’s dual fuel technology, we now offer fleets a viable path to new natural gas vehicles,” says Jensen. “We encourage them to work with Fitzgerald Glider Kits and the WheelTime Network to purchase new gliders, which include the APG Dual Fuel add-onoption right off the production line.

“This lower cost, winning combination will provide customers with no loss of power and torque, significant net fuel savings, significantly lower post-install maintenance costs, lower gaseous emissions, and it will eliminate the drivability hassles associated with maintaining diesel exhaust fluid levels and regeneration drive cycles.”

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