A unit of China’s CIMC Enric has won a large order to supply tanks for 1,000 LNG-fueled trucks in China.
Zhangjiagang CIMC Sanctum Cryogenic Equipment (CIMC Sanctum) will supply dual 1,500L LNG on-vehicle cylinders for the strategic cooperation agreement involving 1,000 LNG tractor units signed between heavy-duty truck and logistics customers, according to a statement by CIMC Enric.
Also, CIMC Enric claims this project sets a record for China’s largest single order of LNG vehicles equipped with dual 1,500L gas cylinders.
The firm did not provide the price tag of the deal as well as other details of the order.
CIMC Enric said the dual 1,500L LNG on-vehicle cylinders provided for this batch of LNG tractors adopt “cutting-edge intelligent” booster pump technology to ensure a reliable and efficient gas supply.
Additionally, the design of the dual 1,500L cylinders, which is the largest volume available for twin units, provides a cruising range of 3,500 km, the firm said.
These cylinders are manufactured on CIMC Enric’s newly launched production line, where 100 sets have already been produced and delivered, according to the firm.
Operating on a double-shift system, the production line can manufacture up to 100,000 LNG on-vehicle cylinders annually, ensuring a robust and continuous supply for the market, CIMC Enric said.
LNG-powered truck market on the rise
In recent years, the LNG heavy-duty truck market has emerged as a “frontrunner in the commercial vehicle sector due to its cost-effectiveness, with sales soaring and market share growing steadily,” CIMC Enric said.
Data shows that in 2023, the sales volume of LNG heavy-duty trucks reached 152,000 units, a 307 percent increase year-on-year, while the penetration rate in the heavy-duty truck industry climbed to 16.7 percent, hitting a historical high, CIMC Enric said.
With the booming demand for LNG heavy-duty trucks, orders for CIMC Enric’s LNG on-vehicle cylinders continued to rise, with new orders in 2023 amounting to RMB1.285 billion ($178 million), a 39-fold increase year-on-year, it added.