Engineering news
Supermarket chain Waitrose has introduced Europe’s most advanced fleet of compressed natural gas-powered trucks with a range of up to 500 miles.
Ten Scania-built trucks use twin carbon fibre tanks, developed with Agility Fuel Solutions, the leading CNG fuel systems and cylinders company in North America, which store gas at 250 bar of pressure to increase range from 300 miles to up to 500 miles.
The twin 26-inch diameter carbon fibre fuel tanks will enable the trucks to always run entirely on biomethane, which is 35% to 40% cheaper than diesel and emits 70% less CO2.
The carbon fibre tanks, which are already in use in the US, were adapted and certified for the European market by Agility Fuel Solutions, thereby offering significant advantages over the standard European set-up of eight steel gas tanks. The vehicles are half a tonne lighter, hold more gas and can cover a greater distance depending on the load being carried. They are quicker to refuel and easier to maintain.
Each CNG truck costs 50% more than one which runs on diesel, but will repay the extra costs in two to three years with fuel savings of £15,000 to £20,000 a year depending on mileage. The vehicles are likely to operate for at least five more years, generating overall lifetime savings of £75,000 to £100,000 compared with a diesel equivalent. Each truck will save more than 100 tonnes of CO2 a year compared to diesel vehicles.
Justin Laney, general manager central transport for the John Lewis Partnership, said: “With Europe’s most advanced CNG trucks, we will be able to make deliveries to our stores without having to refuel away from base. Using biomethane will deliver significant environmental and operational benefits to our business. It’s much cleaner and quieter than diesel, and we can run five gas trucks for the same emissions as one diesel truck.”
Philip Fjeld, chief executive of CNG Fuels, added: “High pressure carbon-fibre fuel tanks demolish the ‘range anxiety’ concerns that have made many hauliers reluctant to move away from diesel to CNG. Renewable biomethane is far cheaper and cleaner than diesel, and, with a range of up to 500 miles, it is a game-changer for road transport operators.”