GROWMARK and Optimus Technologies partner to fuel manito transit fleet
GROWMARK, Inc. and Optimus Technologies, Inc. are testing 100% biodiesel to fuel five semi-tractors trucks in GROWMARK’s Manito Transit fleet to determine if the renewable fuel should potentially be burned by the entire Manito truck fleet.
The tests are being conducted as part of GROWMARK’s ongoing efforts to look for decarbonization opportunities within the GROWMARK System, according to a press release that announced the tests. The release cited a U.S. Department of Energy life cycle analysis by the Argonne National Laboratory that concluded that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for 100% biodiesel are 74% lower than GHG emissions from petroleum-based diesel fuel.
Since the pilot began in the summer of 2023, thousands of gallons of biodiesel have been used in five Manito Transit trucks, according to Steve Kubsch, director of Manito Transit and asset management. “Our drivers have indicated no complications using the biodiesel,” he stated. “The trucks are performing in the same way as when they were using petroleum-based diesel.”
Kubsch said the trucks in the pilot test are being used for hauling refined fuels. “By the time the tests are finished in 2027,” he explained, “we should be around 1.5 million miles for the five trucks in the pilot. Consumption and biodiesel run time is monitored by an Optimus Technologies dashboard that shows how much biodiesel is being used by the trucks, he added.
Kubsch said one of the most compelling reasons to test the use of biodiesel in the Manito Transit fleet is biodiesel’s ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when it is used as truck fuel. “Our fleet drives 5 million miles annually,” Kubsch noted. “Even this pilot with five heavy-duty trucks is going to significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions and the other pollutants found in traditional diesel. Biodiesel can also help us improve air quality in communities near busy trucking routes.”
Decarbonizing Transportation
Optimus Technologies CEO Colin Huwyler said pilot testing with GROWMARK’s trucks is expected to confirm biodiesel’s environmental benefits. “We are delighted to team up with GROWMARK, an organization firmly committed to agricultural and environmental sustainability practices, to show what we know from more than 10 million miles of proof: that decarbonization is financially and environmentally sustainable for heavy-duty fleets today.”
Huwyler said in answers to written questions from Processing Journal that preliminary test results compiled since the tests began in 2023 show significant reductions in carbon emissions when GROWMARK uses the Optimus upgraded trucks in conjunction with biodiesel. “Just as important,” he noted, “we see performance and durability comparable to traditional diesel.”
The results since the tests began align with Optimus’ experience, he stated, which now encompasses using the Optimus technology with biodiesel fuel on more than 750 trucks that have traveled on the road more than 10 million miles.
“Optimus Technologies has created an ecosystem or a suite of patented technologies that power heavy-duty diesel trucks with biodiesel but never inhibits the engine from operating on diesel,” Huwyler remarked. “Our Vector manifold and electronic control unit communicates with the engine’s control module, ensuring the optimal use of biogenic fuels and recording operational and performance data. This data is transmitted in real time to fleet operators.
“In addition,” he continued, “our system includes a biodiesel fuel tank with an in-tank heat exchanger and a fuel selector valve and user interface so the driver can easily monitor operational status, fuel level, and any alerts. Finally, we equip the refueling station and the truck with Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors that prevent driver error when refueling and track emission reductions. Our upgrade can be added to existing or new trucks. Fontaine Modification is currently upgrading hundreds of new Volvo trucks with Optimus’ solutions.”
Huwyler explained that Scope Carbon Accounting documents show that 100% biogenic fuels, like the biodiesel being tested, offer a 100% carbon reduction compared to petroleum-based diesel. “There can be no doubt,” he stated, “that every time GROWMARK uses Optimus technology and biodiesel fuel, they are making significant reductions in their carbon footprint.”
Upgrading with the PACCAR MX-13 12.9L powertrain is relatively simple, Huwyler explained. There are six primary components to the Optimus Technologies’ Vector System:
• The Vector Manifold, which is the primary fuel conditioning module.
• A heated biogenic fuel tank.
• Fuel selector valves, which allow selection between diesel and biodiesel fuel supply systems.
• An in-cab user interface that provides the driver with operational information about the system.
• An electronic control unit that automates system operation, eliminating the need for driver engagement.
• A telematics unit that provides real-time data and feedback on a truck’s use of biogenic fuels.
“The telematics system offers fleet managers and technicians operational and performance data and provides sustainability teams with validated emission reduction information,” Huwyler said. “On average the system can be installed in 24 [labor] hours.”
Jerry Perkins, contributing editor