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Gassing up
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Fleet Management Systems (FMS)
- Sensors - Gas Sensors
- Sensors - GPS
Applicable Industries
- Agriculture
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Facility Management
Use Cases
- Fleet Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- System Integration
- Hardware Design & Engineering Services
- Training
- Software Design & Engineering Services
The Challenge
Fair Oaks Farms faced the challenge of reducing their carbon footprint and dependency on diesel fuel for their milk hauling operations. The goal was to transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel source. The challenge was compounded by the need to maintain high productivity and efficiency in their milk hauling operations, which required running the fleet virtually around the clock. Additionally, the infrastructure for natural gas fueling was not readily available in many states, including Indiana, necessitating the development of their own fueling system.
About The Customer
Fair Oaks Farms is a large dairy operation located in northwestern Indiana, consisting of twelve dairy farms, each with approximately 3,000 milk cows. The farm is known for its commitment to sustainable farming practices and has diversified into various divisions, including Windy Oaks Biofuels and Renewable Dairy Fuels. Fair Oaks Farms is also a popular tourist destination, offering facility tours that showcase their sustainable farming practices. The farm has a history of innovation and collaboration with partners to achieve its sustainability goals.
The Solution
Fair Oaks Farms, in collaboration with partners such as Ruan Transportation Management Systems, PacLease, Clean Energy Fuel Corp, and New Frontier Holdings, launched a renewable compressed natural gas (CNG) milk hauling fleet. The fleet consists of 42 CNG-fueled tractors, specifically Kenworth T440 daycab tractors equipped with Cummins Westport ISL G engines and Allison 3000HS transmissions. The tractors are designed to handle an 80,000-lb gross combination weight and have a range of almost 600 miles. The project also involved the construction of two CNG fueling stations, one at Fair Oaks Farms and another in Sellersburg, Indiana. The methane used to fuel the tractors is produced from cow manure through anaerobic digestion, a process that generates methane gas. The methane is then scrubbed to remove impurities and converted into vehicle-grade fuel. The project received substantial state and federal support, including grants from the US Department of Energy and the Indiana Office of Energy Development.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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