3M designs cheaper fuel tank for natural gas vehicles in Chesapeake collaboration

“We are enthusiastic about the future of natural gas vehicles and are proud to introduce this tank to help companies take advantage of the benefits of natural gas as a transportation fuel,” 3M executive Mike Roman said in a news release.

“With a tank that will help provide more range and more payload capacity at less expense, CNG vehicles are now an even more attractive alternative for fleet and individual retail customers alike.”

3M's tank, created as part of a year-old partnership with Chesapeake Energy Corp., will be showcased next month at the NTEA Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

Collaborative effort

3M and Chesapeake announced plans last February to collaborate in designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of CNG tanks for use in all sectors of the U.S. transportation market

3M's new tanks initially will be available through five approved firms, including OEM Systems in Okarche. John Luber, OEM's director of CNG strategies, said it is an honor to be selected to work with 3M.

He said the new tanks are a huge step forward in making CNG conversions more affordable for fleets and families interested in switching to a cheaper fuel.