Iveco powers ahead in gas

Iveco says it's taking great strides in CNG and LNG commercial vehicles, recently inking major contracts for trucks and buses in Europe

Iveco says it's fast cementing itself as the leader in European alternative fuel solutions, recently taking large-scale new orders of natural-gas-powered commercial vehicles and buses in that continent.

Part of the global CNH Industrial group, Iveco is a pioneer in natural gas technology having first begun developing alternative-fuelled vehicles over 35 years ago.

The brand is now recognised as a leader in natural gas research as well as in the sale of natural-gas-powered vehicles across light, medium and heavy-duty vehicles as well as buses.

In June this year, Iveco announced a record order of 250 natural-gas-powered trucks to the Jacky Perrenot Group, one of France's leading transport and logistics companies.

The large order comprised 200 Stralis NP (Natural Power) and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) prime movers as well as 50 Stralis NP CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) rigid trucks. The Stralis NP prime mover in the first long-haul LNG-powered heavy truck offering a range of up to 1500km.

In the bus industry, the city of Nantes in France has also just committed to an order of 80 Iveco natural gas buses, to be taken on by local transport authority, Mantes Metropole and Semitan. The arrangement is for ongoing supply of Iveco natural gas buses, with the 80 units marking only the first instalment.

In Australia Iveco offers CNG-powered variants of selected Daily, Eurocargo and Stralis models, providing strong coverage across the light, medium and heavy-duty weight classes from three tonnes to 44 tonnes – a number of these vehicles have now worked successfully with local customers for several years.

Natural gas is currently seen as the only viable alternative to diesel as a transport fuel, delivering notable environmental benefits including reduced CO2 and Nitrogen Oxide emissions and virtually no particulate matter. Other benefits include a reduction in operating noise of up to 50 per cent compared to diesel-powered engines – an important factor particularly for night-time operation in inner-city environments – as well as reduced fuel costs.

Through parent company CNH Industrial, Iveco is working closely in Australia with key industry, government and non-government stakeholders to highlight the advantages of conventionally-accessible natural gas.

In addition to the many operating benefits of natural gas-powered trucks and buses, there are significant opportunities to address issues relating to Australia's domestic fuel security framework and as a logical provision in mitigating an increasing dependency on imported fuels.

Electric vehicles are also gaining momentum in the commercial sphere, with companies such as Tesla, Nikola Motor and Daimler recently outlining their respective plans to bring a 100 per cent electric truck to production in coming years.

Iveco powers ahead in gas

Tags