Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/240655
"We have a strong network of Volvo dealerships within our operating footprint that are natural gas certified to service and support our vehicles." Joel Hirschboeck is the superintendent of commercial and alternative fuels for Kwik Trip, a family-owned and operated convenience store chain that offers a variety of fuel products. What type of business is Kwik Trip and where do you operate? Kwik Trip Inc. operates in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and thrives on a verticallyintegrated model by operating its own bakery, dairy, commissary, ice plant, bottling plant, distribution center, transportation and logistics arm, vehicle and facilities maintenance, as well as an internal store construction and engineering team. Describe your responsibilities at Kwik Trip. I am the superintendent of commercial and alternative fuel and oversee the Kwik Trip Natural Gas Program and commercial fuel sales, which includes infrastructure development, fleet education, promotion, system design and development, outside fuel sales, inside sales,customer service, fleet card operations and business development. Which alternative fuels are you currently using and why? Kwik Trip is committed to natural gas as a vehicle fuel. The majority of our alternative fuel fleet operates on CNG, but we do have about 15 LNG tractors. By second quarter next calendar year approximately 50 percent of our heavy duty fleet will be powered by natural gas. The decision to move to natural gas powered vehicles began as a way to reduce operating costs for our own fleet. As we continued down the path we realized that we were able to apply natural gas vehicles to every application in our fleet including yard spotters, bulk petroleum, grocery delivery, straight truck applications as well as medium- and light-duty service and store support vehicles. By combining roughly $2 per gallon cost savings, an alternative fuels program that did not require government assistance to be successful and the multitude of applications natural gas worked in, we knew we had a powerful opportunity with CNG and LNG. What kind of infrastructure is available to support and service these vehicles? Initially, when we considered natural gas vehicles two years ago, the fueling, service and support for NGVs was nonexistent in our marketplace. Since then, the industry has responded in leaps and bounds and Kwik Trip currently offers 20 CNG fueling facilities in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. We have a strong network of Volvo dealerships within our operating footprint that are natural gas certified to service and support our vehicles. CNG is rapidly improving compared to others. Diesel will always play a role in fleet operations as a dominant fuel option, but natural gas will continue to grow market share. Having a plentiful domestic natural gas supply adds a great level of price stability to an industry that has become accustomed to volatility and educatedguessing the future cost of diesel. Which Volvo models/engines are you currently using? Kwik Trip currently operates the VNM day cab with the Cummins Westport ISL-G spark ignited 9-liter natural gas engine as well as the VNL day cab with the Cummins Westport ISXG spark ignited 12-liter natural gas engine. Why have you partnered with Volvo Trucks as your supplier of alt fuel products? In addition to the dealership's support, it was also important to have corporate support provided to those dealers and to the industry as a whole. For Kwik Trip, it was very important to know we had the backing of our corporate partners such as Volvo Trucks as we continued down the path of an infant market like natural gas vehicles. ■ Where do you see the alt fuels market going? CNG seems to be making a strong case as the dominant alternative fuel. The infrastructure is growing rapidly and vehicle technology for For more information on where you can find Kwik Trip Natural Gas to fuel your Volvo CNG fleet, visit: KTBeyondGreen@KwikTrip.com DRIVER 'S DIGEST #1/2014 29