Trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) produce significantly lower CO2and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, cause virtually no particulate emissions and are significantly quieter than conventional trucks.
This is why Volkswagen Group Logistics, together with Scania, a brand of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group, and the forwarders of the Volkswagen Group are in favor of the use of LNG as a truck fuel. Federal ministries (Ministries of Transport and Economic Affairs) and associations support this commitment, together with gas suppliers.
At yesterday’s LNG Truck Day in Wolfsburg, all concerned spoke in favor of a shared objective. They want to make the transport activities of the Volkswagen Group more environmentally compatible. In future, more than 100 Scania LNG trucks are to be used on the roads of north Germany. To achieve this objective, forwarders are to receive support for the purchase of trucks and new LNG refueling stations are to be constructed.
Thomas Zernechel, Head of Volkswagen Group Logistics, said: “Lower-emission trucks are a key element in our Green Logistics sustainability initiative. With yesterday’s LNG Truck Day, we provided impetus for the use of trucks with alternative powertrains. However, we can only succeed with strong partners – a concerted effort will bring us onto the right track.”
Volkswagen Group Logistics, Scania, the gas suppliers participating and 18 regional forwarders all gave their support to sustainable logistics. More than 100 Scania LNG trucks are to be made available to the Group’s forwarders in the north of Germany. The ministry will provide forwarders with a support package for the purchase of trucks. Gas suppliers are to construct LNG refueling stations in the region.
To achieve further progress with the implementation of these projects, the participants met at LNG Truck Day in Wolfsburg. Reservations concerning the use of the new technology and other obstacles are to be eliminated and the expansion of the LNG refueling network in Germany is to be actively supported.
LNG is considerably more environmentally compatible than conventional fuels. Scania trucks with an LNG powertrain emit up to 20 percent less CO2 than comparable diesel engines. The use of regional and local biogas even reduces CO2emissions by as much as 90 percent in addition to the improvement in the carbon dioxide balance, these powertrains emit some 95 percent less nitrogen oxides (NOx). Less particulate matter is produced during combustion and particulate emissions are virtually completely avoided (-95 percent). Compared with diesel-engined trucks, the noise levels produced by combustion are reduced by about 50 percent (-3 db).
