More recently the company has also invested heavily in Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), through the construction of the $137 million project in Western Australia which includes the LNG plant and strategically located refuelling infrastructure.

Marketed under the 'EVOL LNG' brand, Kleenheat Gas currently supplies LNG and supporting refuelling facilities to approximately 200 trucks in Western Australia and Victoria with plans afoot to further expand into NSW, QLD and SA.

Major fleets already using LNG with great success include the Murray Goulburn Co-Operative (Devondale brand of milk products), Sands Fridge Lines, Mitchell Corporation, McColls, Cleanaway, SITA Environmental Solutions, Cootes and a growing internal fleet within Kleenheat Gas.

More than just a fuel producer, the EVOL LNG team works closely with original equipment manufacturers and specialist LNG engine conversion companies to ensure the fuel delivers the best operational and environmental outcomes for its customers.

“To be successful in this emerging industry you need to make the fuel transition as easy as possible by engaging management and fleet drivers,” Kleenheat Gas’ LNG Manager, Brad Lowson said.

“We do a lot more than simply supplying the fuel - we supply the LNG refueller network, provide driver and workshop training, site audits and facilitate the entire conversion process. Further, we have trucking experts embedded within our team,” Mr Lowson said.

The recent official opening of Wesfarmers Energy’s 175 tonne-per-day Kwinana plant (commissioned in September 2008) combined with the company's commitment to increasing national refuelling infrastructure will set the platform for the greater availability and use of LNG in the future.   The 175 tonnes per day production capacity of this new LNG plant is equivalent to approximately 250,000 litres of diesel per day.

Being 600 times the density of natural gas and three times the density of compressed natural gas (CNG), LNG is the most efficient method of transporting and storing gas.
LNG is vapourised or 'reconverted' back to its natural gas state when required for use in applications such as industrial applications, power generation, heating and transport.

The Advantages of LNG
LNG fuel delivers the best outcomes for companies operating long haul fleets over medium to large distances.

LNG offers several environmental benefits over its oil-based counterparts; unlike diesel, the most traditional heavy transport fuel, natural gas burns more cleanly and with lower carbon emissions.

When used in modern truck engines, LNG emits significantly less Particulate Matter and Nitrogen Oxides when compared to diesel engines. Furthermore, internal testing by various manufacturers globally has proven that the current generation of gas-powered engines exceed the highest environmental requirements (EURO V and Japanese New Long Term 05) making LNG engines some of the cleanest internal combustion power plants available.

Australia has an abundant supply of natural gas reserves, providing us with natural advantages in terms of supply and pricing stability when compared to diesel.   

Current LNG technology
With increased political and public pressure on the transport industry to reduce its carbon footprint, several manufacturers are in the process of introducing factory installed, high powered heavy duty LNG engines and fuel systems.