The number of LNG-powered trucks spiked last year in the Netherlands as transport companies increasingly opt for the fuel, according to Volvo Trucks.
The Dutch unit of Sweden-based Volvo Trucks said the number of LNG trucks more than tripled during the last year as owners look for an alternative to diesel.
In addition, Volvo says more than 15 percent of all of its truck sales are now LNG-powered vehicles.
The truck manufacturer points to two main reasons why truck owners opt for LNG fuel.
First is slashing emissions and the second is related to direct and indirect costs.
Volvo says its LNG-powered truck has a 20% smaller CO2 footprint but comes with the same performances as the diesel version. And the possibility to run on bio-LNG could eliminate emissions entirely.
Furthermore, the market for LNG as a truck fuel is growing strongly in the Netherlands and in Germany, thanks in part to tax schemes and a road tax exemption for LNG-powered trucks until the end of 2023.
In parallel, the network of truck LNG filling stations in both of the countries is on the rise and many companies including the biggest players such as Shell are rolling out a network of these facilities throughout Europe.
