Alkane

[Red Horse]

Saw a post on another site that Alkane will soon add a class 8 cab over to their US "production".  Can't see how this company can make a go of it.  Establishing a US factory, dealer organization, importing Chinese cabs, using US components and doing all this under the premise that alternative fuels (CNG -LPG- LNG) are the cornerstone of their business.

Any opinions? for sure KSC-what does your crystal ball say?

[41chevy]

Using Propane and LNG earns them a huge Federal  grant, tax break and deferment , like most of the "green" vehicle manufacturer will probably go bankrupt when the free money dries up. 

[HeavyGunner]

31 minutes ago, 41chevy said:

Using Propane and LNG earns them a huge Federal  grant, tax break and deferment , like most of the "green" vehicle manufacturer will probably go bankrupt when the free money dries up. 

Yeah just like all the bogus biodiesel plants in Montana, as soon as the subsidies ran out they closed their doors. 

[kscarbel2]

I'm told that Bob Smith and Steve Rayborn at Alkane (http://alkanetruckcompany.com/) are two of the nicest guys in the world. They're focused on natural gas and propane.

We've spoken of them before (http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42584-alkane-to-build-alternative-fuel-truck-plant-in-south-carolina/#comment-310741).

There might be a niche market for the Class 7 Foton medium trucks they're repowering with propane-fueled 8.8-liter PSI engines (http://www.psiengines.com/whatwedo/industrial-engines/). They're excited about propane, but that's a limited market. And without volume, I can't see the ingredients for long-term success.

As for their Foton Class 8 COEs repowered with natural gas Cummins ISX12G engines, in a conventional cab market without viable after-sales support, I imagine success will prove illusive.

 

[Red Horse]

9 hours ago, kscarbel2 said:

I'm told that Bob Smith and Steve Rayborn at Alkane (http://alkanetruckcompany.com/) are two of the nicest guys in the world. They're focused on natural gas and propane.

We've spoken of them before (http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/42584-alkane-to-build-alternative-fuel-truck-plant-in-south-carolina/#comment-310741).

There might be a niche market for the Class 7 Foton medium trucks they're repowering with propane-fueled 8.8-liter PSI engines (http://www.psiengines.com/whatwedo/industrial-engines/). They're excited about propane, but that's a limited market. And without volume, I can't see the ingredients for long-term success.

As for their Foton Class 8 COEs repowered with natural gas Cummins ISX12G engines, in a conventional cab market without viable after-sales support, I imagine success will prove illusive.

 

KS- I do believe you said the magic words.."long term success".  And as 41 Chev and H'gunner point out, we all know wht happens when the subsidies get yanked and the business model has to stand on its own two feet.  OR when Paccar, International or even Ford decide propane has good volume numbers.

Another Carbon Motors in the making.

[TeamsterGrrrl]

I tend to agree- take away the subsidies and much of the propane, natural gas, and electric vehicle market disappears.

[41chevy]

Another thought to ponder. The infrastructure needed for supply is at best spotty. One LNG/Propane fueling station on Long Island for sanitation trucks in Brookhaven's  land fill and Federal .State and many local laws prevent a station that dispenses cooking or heating fuel from filling vehicles due to fire and safety requirements.   

[HeavyGunner]

The only commercial trucks I've ever seen running propane are the Schwans frozen food trucks.  Would be interesting to find out how big of a tank they have and where they fill up at. Mom and pop gas stations and Co-op's still fill propane tanks on the spot but most places are going the bottle exchange program unless the place of business is specifically dedicated to filling gases like Norco. 

[DailyDiesel]

Alkane has been floating around for a number of years, with low fuel prices the appeal of these vehicles diminish greatly.

[RoadwayR]

There is also these guys:

http://www.rainiertruckandchassis.com/ 

My understanding is they are manufacturing their own chassis and buying just a cab.  Rainier is promising Cummins and PSI CNG/LNG/gasoline engines.  They have been around a few years, but I have no idea how many trucks they have build so far, if any.

 

[kscarbel2]

3 hours ago, RoadwayR said:

There is also these guys:

http://www.rainiertruckandchassis.com/ 

My understanding is they are manufacturing their own chassis and buying just a cab.  Rainier is promising Cummins and PSI CNG/LNG/gasoline engines.  They have been around a few years, but I have no idea how many trucks they have build so far, if any.

 

Gary Jones who heads Rainier is another great guy. But he's a chassis engineer, mostly for motor-homes. He's not a truck guy, and his chance for success was painted on the wall from day one. He is doing diesels (not alternative powertrains) with his medium COEs, but most people aren't going to buy a no-name truck from a very small no-name truckmaker with a Chinese cab.