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Coca-Cola Enterprises has taken delivery of 13 gas-powered Iveco Stralis six by two rigid trucks, following a year-long trial.
They will be used to deliver soft drinks in and around London this summer. They will be based at CCE’s Enfield depot in North London, although will temporarily operate from a satellite facility in Dagenham this summer. During this period, refuelling will be provided on-site via a semi-trailer.
The trial was organised in conjunction with Cenex, the government-funded Centre of Excellence for low-carbon and fuel-cell technologies, and compared the performance of two 21 tonne Stralis rigids – one running on compressed bio-methane (CBM) and the other on diesel.
It found that the CBM-powered Stralis will make a 60.7 per cent saving in well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions, compared to the Stralis with an EEV-compliant diesel engine. Similarly, it will cut NOX and PM emissions by 85.6 per cent and 97.1 per cent respectively. The report also confirmed gas vehicle availability during the trial was an impressive 99.2 per cent.
Darren O’Donnell, Logistics Asset Manager at CCE, said: “Securing Cenex’s involvement has given us the confidence to introduce new vehicle technology and fuels which will make step-changes in our emissions performance.
“Our investment in 13 additional trucks and a permanent CBM refuelling station at our depot in Enfield is not a token gesture; it’s testament to our confidence in this technology and our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our fleet. The environmental benefits of CBM have been clearly proven by the trial and we hope other fleets will be inspired to follow our lead,” he adds.
The compressed bio-methane is supplied by Gasrec. It has the lowest carbon intensity of all commercially available alternative fuels and comes from a landfill site in Surrey, which means it is not depleting any fossil resources.
