LOS ANGELES, Oct. 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the launch of the new SoCalGas Truck Loan Program.  The program allows qualified fleet owners the opportunity to try out the latest in heavy-duty natural gas truck technology by test driving a 12-Liter near-zero truck.  This "try before you buy" program provides fleet owners with the opportunity to haul loads with the new truck for up to two weeks.  Operators will experience the similarities between natural gas trucks and diesel trucks with respect to power, drivability, fuel range and fuel availability.  Additionally, fleet owners will see the advantages natural gas trucks have over diesel, including lower fuel costs.

SoCalGas is working in partnership with the truck's owner, Rush Truck Centers, the only company with a 12-Liter near-zero natural gas truck equipped with a Cummins Westport ISX12N engine and Momentum Fuel system available for rent in Southern California.  As part of the rental program, customers will participate in a "pre-rental" and "post-rental" survey of their natural gas vehicle driving experience.  The survey will include topics such as truck performance, fueling availability, grants and incentives and purchase decision.

"More fleet owners have switched to natural gas trucks over the last few years, due in part to available incentive funding," said Sharon Tomkins, vice president of customer solutions and strategy for SoCalGas.  "However, some are unfamiliar with the technology and are hesitant to make the switch.  The SoCalGas Truck Loan Program is the perfect way to put natural gas trucks to the test on routes driven every day."

"We had the opportunity to be one of the first participants in the Truck Loan Program," said Gordy Reimer, president of Southern Counties Express.  "Our drivers were able to successfully test the newest 12-Liter renewable natural gas engine on trade lanes they current operate their own trucks on and discover for themselves the advances in natural gas engine technology."

This loan program is just one tool SoCalGas is using to get more drivers behind the wheel of the cleanest heavy-duty truck commercially available.  SoCalGas account executives have assisted dozens of fleet owners with incentive funding applications to purchase more than 350 near-zero natural gas trucks and build five new CNG fueling stations since the beginning of the year.  Replacing 350 diesel trucks with near-zero natural gas trucks is the equivalent of taking more than 20,000 passenger cars off the road.

For more information on the Truck Loan Program or to inquire about upcoming funding programs, please contact Wendell Peoples at WPeoples@semprautilities.com.

About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable natural gas service to 21.8 million customers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Natural gas delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.  

SoCalGas is committed to investing in its natural gas system infrastructure, while keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2013 through 2017, the company spent nearly $6 billion to upgrade and modernize its natural gas system to enhance safety and reliability. The company is also committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future, and is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas from dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants and the development of renewable energy storage technologies. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook. 

SOURCE Southern California Gas Company