Dutch firm H.Z. Logistics has taken delivery of thirty Volvo LNG-powered tractor units as it looks to slash emissions and costs.
The logistics service provider said in a statement it would mainly use the Volvo FH 460 LNG trucks for conditioned transport of potato, fruit and vegetable and floriculture products for clients in central and southern Europe.
H.Z. Logistics plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 25 percent in the period up to 2024, general director Barry Zuiderwijk said in the statement.
A Volvo LNG-powered truck would help slash CO2 emissions by 20 percent compared with a diesel truck.
“LNG trucks are currently the most sustainable alternative to diesel and the only alternative that is currently available for long-distance transport,” Zuiderwijk said.
In addtion, LNG is cheaper than diesel and LNG trucks also have an “excellent” fuel consumption rate.
“Our diesel trucks consume around 28 litres per 100 kilometres. With LNG trucks we consume 20.5 kilo per 100 kilometres,” he said.
Also, the firm’s new trucks will now travel toll-free in Germany as the country’s government has last year extended the existing highway toll exemption for LNG-powered trucks until 2023.
H.Z. Logistics LNG-powered trucks will travel an average of 250,000 km per year. About 75 percent of this total the vehicles will use German roads, the firm said.
Volvo said earlier this year that the number of LNG-powered trucks spiked last year in the Netherlands as transport companies increasingly opt for the fuel.
In parallel, the network of truck LNG filling stations in both the Netherlands and Germany continues to rise.
