Hexagon Agility receives wave of RNG fuel system orders for Class 8 trucks

Hexagon Agility (Costa Mesa, Calif., U.S.), a subsidiary of Hexagon Composites (Ålesund, Norway) and provider of (renewable) natural gas (RNG/CNG) fuel systems, has announced a new wave of orders valued at $4.3 million. These orders are for RNG/CNG fuel system installations in trucks powered by Cummins’ (Columbus, Ind., U.S.) 15-liter (X15N) natural gas engine, designed specifically for the North American heavy-duty commercial truck market. 

These RNG fuel systems will use Type 4 carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) pressure vessels produced at Hexagon’s plant in Lincoln, Nebraska. Hexagon Agility also has a Salisbury, North Carolina facility, which is in the process of adding two new tank winding lines with room for four more, if and when needed, as the RNG market continues to grow. This particular location is expected to be “equipment ready” by Q1 2025; activity in Salisbury will be ramped up as existing capacity in Lincoln is fully used.

This orders announcement includes more than 30 Class 8 fleets of which 40% are new adopters of RNG/CNG. Currently, Kenworth and Peterbilt, reported to be two of the top three Class 8 truck OEMs in North America, offer natural gas truck options powered by the X15N engine. Daimler has stated it will start production of its X15N-equipped trucks in 2025 (see 2022’s announcement “Cummins debuts 15-liter hydrogen engine and partners with Daimler for fuel cell trucks”).

“With the new 15-liter engine, RNG trucks now match diesel-like performance in both power and range. Equipped with a fuel system from Hexagon Agility, Class 8 trucks with the X15N can achieve a range of up to 1,200 miles. This unlocks a whole new segment of the truck market, enabling cost savings and emission reduction benefits that an RNG truck offers,” says Eric Bippus, EVP of sales and systems development at Hexagon Agility. “Following on the heels of positive piloting programs, the breadth of fleets placing new orders and the high quoting activity we are experiencing, signifies that the market is embracing this technology as expected.”

Approximately 330,000 heavy-duty trucks are sold annually in the North American market. Currently, 100,000 of these trucks make up the addressable market for RNG/CNG solutions. The 9- and 12-liter natural gas engines available today are well-suited for vocational and day cab regional haul applications. This is supported by a robust network of more than 1,600 public and private RNG/CNG fueling stations across key transport corridors in North America.

The X15N natural gas engine by Cummins is designed to deliver a range of long-haul applications similar to diesel, while significantly reducing emissions. Powered by RNG/CNG, the X15N is capable of meeting stringent EPA and CARB regulations in 2024 and 2027. This expansion adds 230,000 heavy-duty trucks to the addressable RNG/CNG market annually.