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NEWS
CNG works for UK company
Scania produces a range of trucks that run specifically on CNG but is it a viable option? One UK company thinks soScania's connection with gas dates back around 100 years, with one of the earliest recorded examples being Scania buses adapted to run on gas during the First World War years.
Scania produced its first dedicated gas engine in 1940, and in more recent times has supplied in excess of 3800 gas engines for use in a variety of applications around the world. The company tells us that it's currently the only heavy truck manufacturer to offer a dedicated gas-powered engine which meets Euro 6 exhaust emissions.
We recently visited the HQ of UK supermarket giant Waitrose which runs gas vehicles in its fleet and is drastically increasing the numbers of trucks it has running on CNG.
Fleet Manager for Waitrose Simon Gray says there are definite advantages in running trucks on CNG. "We’re finding that some of customers are expecting us to reduce our carbon footprint, and this is certainly one to do that," he said.
Mr Gray pointed out that the emissions from the CNG trucks is just six per cent of that of a diesel truck.
But the advantages don’t end there. CNG is far less expensive than diesel – especially in markets like the UK, and the CNG-powered trucks are quieter.
"The CNG trucks are initially more expensive to purchase but we break even after two years operation and after that we’re saving money," he said.
"Considering we keep our trucks for six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half years, we can save a considerable amount over the life of the truck."
"Considering we keep our trucks for six-and-a-half to seven-and-a-half years, we can save a considerable amount over the life of the truck."
Currently Waitrose is running two trucks which are both P 340 LA4x2MNA models plated at 31-tonnes gross weight. Both vehicles run Scania's OC09 102, nine-litre, Euro 6 engines. Delivering 340hp (250kW) at 1900rpm and 1600Nm of torque between 1100 and 1400rpm, the engine is designed to operate solely on gas (compressed or liquified) and offers a high thermal efficiency of 40 per cent.
The company currently has 10 more CNG trucks on order and Gray says: "We’ll probably order another 40 next year."
Currently there are a couple of downsides to the CNG trucks and one is range. "We are only getting a range of 356 miles (573kms) but Scania is working to increase extend the range to 500 miles (800kms)," he said.
Another downside is that currently there are only 20 filling stations in the UK. "We’re OK because we’ve got one handy and we’re only using the CNG trucks on short urban deliveries," said Gray. However, with the usage of CNG on the rise and the price fixed in comparison to diesel until 2024, there are 20 more filling stations on the drawing board.
The handy refueling station Gray is referring to is a state-of-the-art facility near the Waitrose base in Leyland operated by CNG Fuels Limited. The station is connected to the national high-pressure grid and is capable of refueling up to 500 trucks a day – the greatest refueling capacity of any facility in Europe.
The two Waitrose vehicles typically take around four minutes each to refuel at the end of a day's work. "The success of gas-fueled operation depends on a reliable supply of gas and the Leyland installation now provides us with the local support we need," says Gray. "In terms of the trucks themselves, we have plenty of operating experience with diesel Scanias, and early indications are that the gas-powered trucks are performing well."
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Written byGeoff Middleton
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