Ten IVECO Stralis NP 460 (AS440S46T/P LNG) 4x2 tractor units have recently joined the Primark fleet, working day and night to help stores and delivery hubs across the UK prepare for the provisional reopening of Primark stores in England and Wales on 12 April, and Scotland on 26 April. The company is busy preparing for its stores to re-open and the new vehicles are playing a vital role in ensuring Primark is ready to welcome customers back to stores.
The Natural Power trucks run solely on bio-liquefied natural gas (Bio-LNG), which reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%, according to IVECO. Natural gas is currently the only immediately available low-emission alternative to diesel in the heavy segment, delivering 99% less particulate matter emissions and 90% less NO2.
A major consideration that saw Primark choose Stralis NP, is the trucks’ unique capability to offer a range of up to 1,600km between refills running solely on LNG.
The 460hp (454bhp) 12.9-litre CURSOR 13 Natural Power engine also offers what is claimed to be the longest in-class service intervals of 90,000km, minimising downtime for maximum working efficiency.
Primark has specified its trucks with the largest fuel tank capacity to enable this superior range. The company has worked closely with Gasrec to bring about this change. Drivers have been taken through an extensive education programme to ensure that health and safety guidelines are adhered to when refuelling. Bio-LNG is stored at around -160°C.
Trucks will be fuelled at Europe’s largest gas fuelling station, Gasrec’s DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) site at Crick in Northamptonshire. Capable of refuelling 700 trucks per day, it is situated just off the M1, a short 30-mile hop along the A14 to Primark’s Distribution Centre in Islip.
The vehicles, supplied by Guest Truck & Van and operated on Primark’s behalf by DHL, will run day and night. Trunking between Primark’s regional distribution centres in Scotland and the South West takes place during night hours, while in daylight, the 190 UK stores are restocked. An added benefit of running a gas-powered fleet is that the trucks run considerably quieter than their diesel equivalents, producing just 71dB on the PIEK quiet truck scale. Primark’s new trucks can operate in any urban areas in quiet mode without breaching any night-time urban noise restrictions.
A full suite of exterior cameras with an internal monitor ensures the drivers can see just as well as they’ll be seen, while a front and side scan system warns of any hidden obstacles or pedestrians during urban manoeuvres. Additionally, an automatically adjusting Aerodyne Global Aeromatic air deflector pushes air up and over the near 5m high trailers, reducing drag to optimise fuel efficiency.
Primark estimates each vehicle will cover 200,000km per year. On this basis, Gasrec predict that the 10 new trucks will reduce their annual CO2 emissions by 1,300 tonnes. Running on Gasrec’s sustainably sourced biomethane Bio-LNG, this equates to a reduction of up to 85% CO2 emissions through the mass balance programme.
“We chose the IVECO Stralis NP for its ability to run purely on bio-LNG, its impressive range, strong performance during vehicle trials and early feedback from drivers who appreciated its comfort and performance. We are really proud to bring these new high-quality trucks into our transport fleet and further boost the sustainability of our transport operations, as we continue to help make a more positive impact on the environment”, commented Primark regional transport manager, Ant Franks.
Primark recently introduced 15 new Don-Bur double-deck longer semi trailers into its fleet. These trailers are 2.05m longer than normal and can carry twice the volume of stock as the company’s existing trailers, meaning 1,600 fewer trailer journeys annually.