DHL Supply Chain has added 13 Volvo FH liquefied natural gas (LNG) tractor units to its existing fleet of gas trucks, as part of its GoGreen plan to reduce its environmental impact.
The Volvo FH 6×2 tractor units are equipped with Globetrotter cabs and specified with 155kg LNG tanks for a maximum range of 1,000km. The vehicles will deliver up to 80% reduction in carbon emissions when fueled with bio-LNG and 10-20% with fossil gas. The new FH LNGs use small amounts of diesel to initiate the ignition of the air-fuel mixture. This enables the Volvo G13C engine to deliver the same 460hp and 2,300dNm of torque as its diesel-only counterpart, with matching driveability, reliability and service intervals.
Ian Clough, the managing director of network logistics and transport for DHL’s supply chain in the UK and Ireland, said, “We have a clear set of ambitious environmental targets to achieve, as well as ones to deliver for our customers. To help enable greener supply chains and support our customers in their proactive approach to sustainable transport, we continue to work closely with our customers and partners to find the best solutions.
“The Volvo gas truck is an excellent product and bio-LNG is a viable option to achieve significant carbon reduction in long-haul distribution. We’ve been impressed with the FH LNG units we already have in service and our intention is to accelerate our investment in gas trucks moving forward. We are talking to a number of different customers with the aim to have more than 500 gas vehicles in operation across the fleet by 2025.”