In a vote of 4 to 1, the Century Council voted at its Oct. 15 meeting approval to purchase two gasoline trucks for the town what will run on both regular gasoline and compressed natural gas (CNG).
The trucks approved for purchase are a 2018 Ram 3500 for $26,003 and a 2018 Ram 1500 for $22,893, a price that includes delivery and towing package.
The purchase was tabled at an earlier council meeting after Councilwoman Ann Brooks asked if purchasing diesel trucks instead of gas trucks might be more cost-effective and requested research to determine if it would.
Century Street Supervisor Kevin Merchant said that the choice to buy diesel trucks instead of gas trucks would need a warranty, and that is dependent on how many years the town wants to keep them.
“Diesels require a Blue DEF fuel system, mandated recently by the government for cleaner exhaust and none of us know anything about that,” said Merchant. “When one of them tears up, mechanics will be useless to the town if we buy those diesel trucks.”
The town has one diesel truck already but it does not have the Blue DEF system. Merchant said he does not believe fuel savings of a diesel truck would be too much better gas mileage than a gas truck.
Merchants said that diesels that run on Blue DEF fuel have an added cost of $25-$30 for every five gallons and that he does not know if it is compatible with off-road diesel fuel or not, which is cheaper than on-road diesel fuel. He noted that there are not a lot of mechanics who know about it and that Chris Griffin at Century Auto Parts refuses to work on diesels.
Century Mayor Henry Hawkins told the council they should consider making all of the gas trucks the town now owns CNG trucks, or trucks that can run on compressed natural gas or regular fuel.
“CNG is cheaper for us to get,” said the mayor. “We will get a grant for converting.”
The CNG tanks are attached on the back of the truck and purchase or installation does not cost extra, but they do not come with the CNG converter. Hawkins said grants are available to help with the cost of installing a converter.
The town owns a 3500 truck, which gets about 10 to 15 miles per gallon (MPG) and a 1500 truck, which gets about 21 MPG right now. Mayor Hawkins said he is considering putting converters on them and that the town still qualifies for grants to help with that cost.
“If we convert it to CNG, it will double the mileage,” said Hawkins. “If you get 15 MPG with gas, you will get 15 MPG with the CNG.”
CNG is purchased by cubic foot, and according to the mayor, the town has not purchased it in a while.
Merchant said CNG has to be done through a certified dealer, and Pete Moore in Pensacola is the only place that has a certified mechanic to work on it. Merchant said he has learned how to work on CNG vehicles and can fix them for the town.
“CHG is the cheapest of gas, diesel and CNG,” said Merchant. “It's more environment-friendly too.”
According to Merchant, the Street Department would only use the 3500 truck to pull the town's mini excavator, bull dozer and sewer machine when needed, although it could be pulled periodically to do other lighter work. He did tell the council he would try his best to only use it when absolutely necessary.
The money to purchase the vehicles will be from Special Revenue, according to the mayor.
In a motion made by Luis Gomez and seconded by Sandra Jackson McMurray, the motion carried 4 to 1. Councilwoman Brooks voted no.
