Energy, auto companies bet big on LNG trucks
liquefied natural gas is catalysing energy companies and auto majors to gear up to serve the long-haul LNG trucking segment.
To cater to these medium and heavy commercial vehicles, oil marketing companies are planning to expand the compressed natural gas dispensing infrastructure in their fuel retail outlets to dispense LNG. They are planning to set up LNG retailing outlets along major national highways.
«Setting up of an LNG station will cost anywhere up to ₹8-₹12 crore. A fuel retail outlet costs only up to ₹1.5 crore. We are evaluating options to maximise investment and expand CNG dispensing stations to include LNG,» said a senior executive from an oil marketing company.
Last month, gas marketer and transporter Gail committed an investment of ₹650 crore to set up LNG filling stations along the Golden Quadrilateral, major NHs and mining hubs. It aims to capture over 50% market share by 2030. Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation are also planning to set up LNG stations.
LNG trucks are called long-haul vehicles, as they have a driving range of 600-1,000 km in a single fuel fill, giving them an edge over other fuels. By 2030, India could see 50,000 trucks serviced through 400 LNG retail stations, according to Emkay Research. India has around 4 million trucks operating, of which 1 to 1.5 million would be diesel-run trucks. Emkay Research says 3-5% of this can be converted to/replaced by LNG by CY30, which implies 50,000 trucks.
«Assuming 150 kg per day fill of
