The automotive supply chain is a demanding and extremely busy industry to work in. Just-in-Time and Just-in-Sequence part deliveries are crucial to the efficient operation of production lines with zero margin of error or even the slightest delay. Time is money and vehicle availability is critical, with trucks operating around the clock to meet demand.

However, in 2021, large companies must also keep their environmental responsibilities at the forefront of all decisions and with a focus on people and the planet, JSE-listed Imperial Logistics (Imperial) has added 18 new IVECO Stralis Natural trucks. Power to its fleet, powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (Bio-LNG) produced in a sustainable manner.

Ordered specifically for a contract with the BMW Group, the new vehicles are based out of a satellite transport office that Imperial operates on the Unipart campus of the MINI Oxford plant in Cowley, Oxfordshire. The decision to switch to natural gas is part of the BMW Group’s broader efforts to improve sustainability in all areas of the business, including its supply chain and logistics operations.

The 18 AS440S46TX / P LNG IVECO Stralis NP 460 tractors are expected to cover approximately 3.3 million kilometers per year, which Imperial estimates will remove more than 3,000 tonnes of CO2 from its annual emissions.

The trucks run 24 hours a day, with several teams of drivers driving them, which is why an extensive training program has been put in place during the 10 days before the vehicles are put into service. Delivered on site by Roadgas staff, all drivers and site personnel who refuel the vehicles have been fully trained on how to safely use the gas refueling equipment.

IVECO NP heavy-duty trucks are unique in the market as they are the only factory-built 6 × 2 tractors that run on natural gas only. The 12.9-liter CURSOR 13 delivers a diesel equivalent of 460 hp and torque of 2,000 Nm over a wide power range, ensuring that with the HI-TRONIX 12-speed automated gearbox with predictive mapping, it does There is no compromise on vehicle performance or driver enjoyment. The trucks run exceptionally quiet at 71dB, further minimizing the environmental impact of Imperial and the manufacturing plant by halving engine noise pollution.

For maximum efficiency, the vehicles are all equipped with truck-specific GPS navigation and tracking. IVECO’s internal connectivity system monitors and reports fuel economy data as well as driving style analysis with training recommendations.

The vehicles will be serviced by the local IVECO workshop, M&M Commercials via a six-year connected R&M 3XL package offering Imperial peace of mind as proactive systems continuously monitor vehicles to increase uptime. IVECO natural gas heavy trucks also offer advanced oil change intervals of up to 90.00 km.

Mark Miles, Managing Director of Imperial UK, said: “At Imperial, we don’t just focus on our profitability; our people and the environment are a very important consideration. We consider it our duty as a responsible and caring member of the global business community to adopt the best environmental practices whenever possible in the course of our daily activities; and therefore the opportunity to reduce the environmental impact of our UK transport operations was compelling. We are delighted to be working with our customers as part of a joint effort to improve the sustainability of logistics, balancing business efficiency with environmental protection.

Commenting on the launch, Gareth Lumsdaine, Head of Heavy Duty Business Line at IVECO UK, said: “It’s great to see that IVECO Natural Power trucks are having a powerful impact beyond their own road haulage job. . Not only do our products enable transport operators to significantly reduce their own environmental impact, but they also enable partnerships with pioneering companies to bring significant green change in the future. “

With a short lead time between order and delivery from South West Truck & Van to Swindon, Imperial, along with natural energy implementation specialists from SWTV and IVECO UK, called on the expertise of Roadgas to support the fuel supply.

While a permanent solution has since been developed at the Cowley site, Roadgas was able to accelerate the deployment of a temporary solution within weeks to meet Imperial’s immediate need for bio-LNG deployment.

“The delivery times for the temporary station were very tight,” commented Becky Rix, Marketing Director for Roadgas, “the ingenious collaborative planning with the Imperial team, as well as the successful implementation of driver training and l installation of this tailor-made bio-LNG refueling. station has been a good start for the team in 2021 after a very difficult year. We are very proud to work with the IVECO and Imperial team to help them achieve their decarbonization goals.

IVECO has been at the forefront of natural gas energy for over 20 years now, developing a range of engines with its sister company FPT Industrial to open the doors to mass decarbonization in the transportation industry, from its daily vans from 3.5 t to Eurocargo. to the long-haul heavy sector. In 2021, the new IVECO S-WAY NP takes over from Stralis NP to continue its pioneering mission towards a cleaner and greener future.

For more information on IVECO Natural Power and to find your nearest IVECO dealer, visit www.iveco-dealership.co.uk