The electricals retailer is aiming to have 90% of its vehicles running on CNG by 20230.
AO originally purchased 10 CNG tractor units in 2022 and the company has now brought 10 more into its fleet. The switch is expected to enable a reduction of up to 85% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared to the existing diesel fleet.
To couple with the tractor units, AO has also acquired 20 longer moving deck double deck semi-trailers (LSTs) from Cheshire business Tiger Trailers.
The LSTs are 2.05 metres longer than the standard trailers used by AO, allowing for a 10% increase in capacity, as appliances can be double stacked on both lower and upper decks, as well as loaded four products wide if desired.
David Ashwell, group logistics director at AO, said: “These tractor units and the new LSTs allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and save on costs. Crucially it significantly increases our capacity, which enables us to deliver even better service to our customers.”
The LSTs are the sixth generation of design supplied by Tiger over a nine-year period.
Darren Holland, sales director of Tiger Trailers, said: “It’s great to work with the entire AO team and we look forward to enhancing the current builds into the next generation at each enquiry stage.
“The evolution from the original trailers supplied in 2015 that gave an increase of 14% in load capacity back then to the new trailers which are gaining a further 10% is great to see.”
The new LSTs will carry large appliances between the company’s warehouse in Crewe and its delivery outbases across the UK. It takes the total number of Tiger-built vehicles in its fleet to over 300.
