To be supplied by South West Truck & Van in Avonmouth are 50 IVECO AS440S46TX/P LNG Stralis NP 460 tractors, destined to run out of the company’s Sleaford and Ashbourne facilities. These are to run on 100% bio-LNG sourced through anaerobic digestion, with Roadgas commissioning an on-site refuelling station and providing an extensive training course to those involved in its operation.
The creation of gas fuels through anaerobic digestion means that Moy Park can take advantage of ultimate emissions reductions, negating waste output by collecting the gases given off for vehicle fuel while solids can be used as fertiliser for farms, locking carbon into earth and away from the atmosphere.
Moy Park has maintained a zero-waste-to-landfill policy since 2015.
The new biogas trucks, run via a five-year IVECO Capital ops lease are expected to cover around 160,000km a year each, which Moy Park estimates will offset around 5,600 tonnes of CO2 annually. Running day and night to maximise efficiency, all vehicles will return to base for refuelling and have been specified with a tank capacity giving a range of around 400 miles.
The Natural Power Stralis will operate on a mixture of routes, delivering food products to regional delivery hubs and directly into a variety of supermarkets.
Hugh Nicholson, Moy Park’s director of logistics, said: “This is a huge step forward in transitioning our own entire core fleet of 120 tractor units to gas by 2023, and we also plan to work with our third-party logistics partners in their CO2 reduction programmes as part of our overall net zero carbon strategy.
“So much transport is on the roads by necessity, therefore road haulage is a key opportunity for us to reduce carbon emissions. Our transport team have been driving carbon reduction initiatives for a number of years, for example through increasing use of high-capacity trailers.”
IVECO said that its ability to offer a factory-built 6x2 tractor powered solely by natural gas is unique in the marketplace. Running in this configuration allows Moy Park enables maximisation on payload capacity where required.
Keeping the wheels turning via the automated 12-speed HI-TRONIX gearbox is the 12.9-litre Natural Power Cursor 13, which generates 454bhp and 2,000Nm of torque across a wide power band.
IVECO Hi-Cruise predictive drive works in tandem with the gearbox and adaptive cruise control to ensure that the truck is always running in the best gear for the terrain. A standard-fit ZF hydraulic retarder offers exceptional particulate-free braking force, reducing the need to rely on the service brakes and extending their operational efficiency.
As part of the contract, the trucks include an IVECO ON 3XL R&M package, which covers everything except tyres. Authorised IVECO workshops will take care of the vehicles, with the connection to the IVECO Control Room facilitating advance warning of maintenance requirements and tailored service plans.