Alternative Fuels
The realities of running on gas power
“It’s been frustrating that our operating cycles have been disrupted for three out of six-months with the trucks, so we are still yet to accurately compare operating costs with our diesel trucks, although early signs are promising,” he added. IVECO and supplying dealer Haynes Trucks in Maidstone delivered initial education workshops to ensure drivers were thoroughly trained and knowledgeable about the natural gas technology powering their new fleet. This Six months on from taking delivery of ten IVECO Stralis Natural included how to refuel safely and how to get Power trucks, Nicholls Transport is enjoying strong driver the best performance from their vehicles. Drivers have quickly become accustomed to the trucks, acceptance and is finding urban deliveries and motorway with the most often heard feedback being trunking routes are the sweet spot for gas power ‘how quiet they are compared with diesel’, particularly on longer motorway journeys. Nicholls’ on-site refuelling station set up in Nicholls Transport’s fleet of ten IVECO Stralis Adapting to gas-power partnership with GasRec has been busy fuelling NP trucks, powered by Liquified Natural Gas Half of the gas-powered fleet is away from its own fleet as well as receiving (LNG), have worked throughout the Covidbase all week with the drivers regular visits from other UK and 19 pandemic, transporting everything from quickly adjusting to the European hauliers to fill up with paper and timber to food, bulk recycling national LNG refuelling Drivers gas as they travel through and building supplies across the UK. network and planning have be c o Kent. Although it has been Darren Sherlock, finance director of their routes accordingly. m e accusto shut to external operators Nicholls Transport sees a bright future Sherlock is keen to m e d the truc t o during the Covid-19 for operators using gas trucks to deliver see the number of k pandemic, Nicholls long goods into large urban areas and when depots offering gas most o s, with the ften he term aspiration is to scale operating on longer trunking routes. continue to grow ard feedba up its refuelling forecourt “We carry out regular deliveries of to further improve c k being how qu to increase its capacity as plasterboard from a local manufacturer in Kent the operating ie more fleets switch to gas. to construction sites in central London. We can efficiencies of running compar t they are “The IVECO and GasRec travel into the heart of the city without being an LNG fleet. ed with partnership has been very penalised and with a clear emissions conscience. “The network needs diesel strong, and they have both “As more low emission zones are to keep improving, we helped and supported us across all launched in our cities so gas will become do occasionally run slightly aspects of buying and running gas trucks. key for operators to carry out work for their off-piste in some areas of the “We maintain our view that gas is the only customers. Our trucks are also quieter than country to ensure we can refuel. My drivers alternative fuel to diesel suitable for operation at diesels which means we can make deliveries can cover a 300-mile round trip from our 44-tonnes and with more operating restrictions without compromising local noise levels. Sittingbourne base without having to being introduced for diesel trucks then gas will “Half of our Stralis NPs work predominantly fill up, but we do encourage drivers not be the fuel of choice for many more operators on trunking routes and they are performing to risk running out of gas,” he said. during the coming years,” said Sherlock. L very well. The level of driver comfort is Nicholls is yet to get an early indication good and complemented by the lower of Stralis NP running costs compared with in-cab noise levels. The gas power is very his 110-strong diesel IVECO fleet due to FURTHER INFORMATION efficient when working for long periods operating cycles being disrupted by Covidwww.nicholls-uk.co.uk at motorway speeds,” he added. 19 and December factory shutdowns.
July 2020 | COMMERCIAL GREENFLEET
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