Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, which specializes in natural gas storage systems, integration and vehicle system technologies, has received a contract to develop a 5,000-psi compressed natural gas (CNG) tank specifically configured for an integrated storage system for heavy-duty mining trucks in Australia. The tank will be developed for an international industrial firm, which supports mining and other manufacturing applications leveraging compressed natural gas.
Quantum said the customer’s mining applications require availability of natural gas using virtual pipeline delivery methods, and the use of CNG tanks for mining applications complements Quantum’s recently announced commercial entry into the virtual pipeline industry.
Quantum said its Q-Lite tank technology is available for a multitude of CNG applications and delivers the lightest weight and highest capacity of any high-pressure gaseous tank in the industry. The tank was developed using the same design and production characteristics of Quantum’s Q-Lite CNG storage tanks, which the company said is used on thousands of Class 6-8 on-road trucks in North America.
“The mining industry is a major energy user and mining companies around the world are increasingly focused on energy efficiency, lower emission and cost effective ways of generating power,” said Brian Olson, president and CEO of Quantum. “Although many thought mining would be dominated by LNG, Quantum and its commercial partners are now proving that CNG offers a much lower cost solution compared to diesel and LNG.”
