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13. July 2021Würfel Freight Forwarding, specialized in jumbo swap body transport, has expanded its vehicle fleet with several Iveco tractor units powered by climate-friendly liquefied natural gas (LNG). With this investment, the company aims to test the practicality of this environmentally friendly fuel alternative. In the future, the share of LNG vehicles in its own fleet could be significantly increased.
(Bremerhaven) “As an operator of a fleet with over 400 vehicles, we bear a great responsibility, and through environmentally friendly transport, we want to further improve the CO2 footprint of ourselves and our customers. Therefore, we will significantly reduce our pollutant emissions in the coming years and specifically invest in efficient drive technologies,” explains Karim Gebara, Managing Director of Würfel Holding GmbH. In long-distance transport, LNG is currently “the only real alternative to diesel, while hydrogen and battery-powered electric trucks are more suitable for short distances,” Gebara is convinced.
LNG stands for “Liquefied Natural Gas,” where the methane used is cooled to minus 145 degrees Celsius and thus liquefied. The new tractor units from Würfel therefore have specially insulated vehicle tanks. Iveco uses a saturated LNG variant that autonomously builds up gas pressure at minus 130 degrees Celsius, eliminating the need for a fuel pump.
Reduce CO2 Emissions by 15 Percent
The liquefied gas technology offers the advantage that the environment is burdened with significantly fewer pollutants compared to diesel engines at the same performance level. While CO2 emissions decrease by at least 15 percent, particulate emissions are reduced by 95 percent. Primarily, water vapor flows out of the exhaust. If the liquefied gas used is based on biomethane, CO2 levels can even decrease by 95 percent.
Meanwhile, biomethane is increasingly being blended with natural gas. It has the same chemical composition as natural gas but is not of fossil origin. Biogas is produced from plants and organic waste and releases almost only the CO2 into the atmosphere that the plants absorbed during their growth when burned.
Combustion Process is Quieter
Another advantage of gas is the quieter combustion process. Additionally, natural gas is non-toxic and odorless and is transported to gas stations via underground pipelines, relieving road traffic.
Iveco has extensive experience with gas drives. About 25 years ago, the company developed a gasoline engine powered by methane. Today, Iveco offers the most modern and comprehensive range of natural gas vehicles in Europe.
Photo: © Würfel
