LOS ANGELES WORLD AIRPORTS TO PURCHASE MORE CNG-FUELED TRUCKS

(Los Angeles, California – August 15, 2011)  Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners today approved a contract to purchase four utility trucks and five pick-up trucks fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG) to replace similar fossil-fuel-powered vehicles in use at Los Angeles International (LAX) and LA/Ontario International (ONT) airports. 

The $411,704 contract was awarded to Santa Margarita Ford. Once purchased, three of the utility trucks and one pick-up truck will be used at LAX and one utility truck and four pick-up trucks will be used at ONT.

Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) adopted an alternative-fuel vehicle program in 1999 that established guidelines governing identification and replacement of fossil-fuel-powered vehicles and equipment with alternative-fuel vehicles, whenever possible and feasible.

CNG-powered vehicles, including pickup trucks, utility trucks, street sweepers, recycling collection vehicles and other conveyances, are now used daily in and around LAWA’s airports.  Several liquefied natural gas-powered heavy-duty trucks are also in operation at LAWA facilities.

“We believe that alternative-fuel vehicle use is an important element to meeting California’s future energy needs and we are well on our way to converting our entire inventory to its use,” said Maintenance Services Division Director Ralph Morones.

Morones added that LAWA presently has more than 685 alternative-fuel vehicles, or `approximately 60 percent of its fleet, powered by sources other than gasoline or diesel fuels.  “In addition to compressed natural gas, these alternative fuels also include liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Sixty-three percent of the fleet at LAX, or 660 vehicles, use alternative fuels.  The remaining vehicles are used at LAWA’s other two airports: LA/Ontario International and Van Nuys.

LAX’s fleet of 61 courtesy shuttle buses is powered by either CNG or LNG.  These buses transport passengers from outlying parking lots and the nearby Metro Rail Green Line station to the passenger terminals.  

There is an on-site LNG and CNG fueling station for LAWA-owned vehicles at LAX.  There is also a public CNG and hydrogen fueling station adjacent to LAX that is run by a private concern.    ONT is preparing to construct a CNG fueling station on airport property, while Van Nuys presently purchases alternative fuel for its vehicles off-site.

            To encourage the use of zero-emission, electric vehicles, free charging stations are available in Parking Structures 1 and 6 at LAX.