3PL invests in LNG trucks
Uniserve is pushing forward with its decarbonisation strategy with the addition of 10 new Volvo FH Aero gas-powered 6×2 tractor units.
THEY ARE the first trucks fuelled by bio-LNG (liquified natural gas) the company has put into operation.
The new arrivals were ordered on the back of a successful trial which proved the miles per gallon (mpg) performance. Running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the new trucks will clock-up more than 300,000 km per year running between Uniserve’s depot in Chepstow to its customer in Yorkshire.
Uniserve group transport director Gordon McCormick, says: “As a business we have been exploring how best to improve the sustainability of our hard-working fleet. For this kind of application, biomethane represents the best option to make significant reductions in our carbon emissions.
“The demonstrator proved the mpg capability of the Aero design,” adds McCormick. “Over the course of a week’s work, we were looking to achieve a minimum of 9.8 mpg and the Aero hit 10 mpg straight out of the box, which was hugely impressive. We’ve had the new units on the road for a few weeks now and the driver feedback has been really positive.”
Uniserve’s new additions feature a 460 hp gas-powered engine, which delivers the same performance as the diesel version. The 10 FH Aeros will refuel at a newly-installed biomethane facility at the company’s Chepstow base – built by ViGo Bioenergy. The bio-
LNG supplied is 100% waste-based, with much of the volume planned to come from ViGo’s own manure-derived biomethane, that can offer carbon savings up to 79%.
Safety forms an important part of the specification with the FH Aeros all equipped with Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Side Collision Avoidance Support, and Driver Alert Support systems.
The truck is backed by a full Volvo Gold contract, which guarantees maximum uptime and covers all maintenance and repairs.
