Stobart Group and BOC have been selected by the Government to receive funding to stimulate the market for more environmentally-friendly dual-fuel trucks.
Stobart Group's transport and distribution division
Eddie Stobart has been testing a small fleet of Volvo
dual-fuel vehicles with selected clients, where Liquid
Natural Gas (LNG) replaces up to 90% of the diesel fuel
used to drive the engine. The award-winning programme uses
standard Volvo engines, mated with a specialist dual-fuel
management system and in the event that the system runs out
of LNG, the engine switches automatically to normal diesel
mode.
Despite the environmental benefits that this new technology
offers, Eddie Stobart's ability to increase the vehicle
fleet requires considerable investment, not only in the
vehicles themselves, but also in the specialist LNG
refueling facilities, of which only a small number exist in
the UK at present. This significantly limits the range
offered by dual-fuel vehicles and therefore the potential
carbon saving benefits.
The funding provided by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB)
will be matched by an investment from Eddie Stobart. This
will enable its fleet of Volvo dual-fuel tractor units to
be increased and allow BOC, the UK's largest provider
of compressed and liquefied gas, to install an LNG
refueling station at one of Eddie Stobart's regional
hubs - with access available to other dual-fuel vehicle
operators.
The trial aims to determine the ability of the vehicles to
achieve up to 90% substitution of diesel by LNG, reduce
carbon emissions by up to 25%, and avoid the potential loss
of gas vented from conventional systems during refueling.
The robust testing of the vehicle and refueling
technologies in the field, as an integrated part of a
larger vehicle fleet, will enable further refinement of the
technology and provide significant opportunities to help
drive sustainability in the logistics sector.
Eddie Stobart's reputation for industry-leading
innovation, combined with the world-class experience of the
BOC Group, will raise awareness of the industry's quest
for low-carbon transport options, provide evidence and
promote the opportunities to UK business and policymakers,
to help accelerate the use of sustainable vehicles and
alternative fuel systems. Stobart Group has led the way in
sustainable distribution with modal shifts from road to
rail, campaigning for fuel-saving longer semi trailers and
delivering fuel efficient driver training across its
business.
Commenting on the award from Government, Kate Willard,
Stobart Group Corporate Affairs Director, said: "Stobart
Group is always keen to help stimulate UK technological
innovation in the logistics sector, and is therefore
delighted to have been selected as one of a small number of
winning bids from the TSB competition. The grant support,
matched by our own investment, will be invaluable to
helping drive forward our commitment to sustainable
distribution, against a backdrop of rising fuel prices. The
dual-fuel technology will help deliver cost control and
reduced emissions for the Group and our customers. We very
much look forward to working with TSB and BOC to use this
funding to encourage more investment in critical
technological solutions such as these.
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