Tri-Star Alternative Fuel, The Green Company, LLC (Tri-Star) is looking to position itself to be the leader in Diesel Truck conversions to low carbon fuel vehicles in the port area of Los Angeles County California. Its principals Glen Elsberry and Gilbert Gallahar have done this before in the automotive industry in Arizona, where they converted over 500 vehicles.
The Port Authority through its Clean Air Action Plan and its Clean Trucks Program as of October 1, 2008 has banned any diesel truck older than 1989. These trucks will no longer be permitted in the port boundaries due to new emission standards (3,000 – 4,000 trucks). Further, the existing fleet of approximately 18,000 older diesel vehicles needs to meet or exceed 2007 emission control requirements. Approximately 9,000 of these vehicles will need to operate on low carbon fuel that includes propane, liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas (LNG & CNG). The LNG vehicles that are currently being offered for sale or lease are only 9-liter engine trucks and are underpowered and very unpopular with trucking companies and their drivers.