In Germany, the company REAX Transporte GmbH received its first seven Volvo trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), alongside a total order of 20 Volvo FH LNG tractors. With this important order, REAX is the first customer in Germany to launch Volvo LNG technology on a large scale.
Since its establishment, REAX Transporte has been a customer of Volvo Trucks in Rostock.
Jens Bode, Regional Director of Volvo Trucks for the North, accompanied by Marko Studier, sales consultant for Volvo Trucks in Rostock, delivering the first seven machines to René and Alexander Bielesch, owners of REAX Transporte GmbH, commented on the ceremony: "It is the first important order in Germany for our LNG trucks and we are glad it has happened in the north-east of the country."
Every three years REAX renews its fleet, and this time the company has decided in favour of LNG trucks. René Bielesch explained:
"Both economic and environmental factors have played a decisive role in our purchase. LNG trucks are not only less polluting, but also their specific consumption is lower; moreover, the new trucks are exempt from road tolls until 2020."
According to J. Bode, a critical point in Germany is currently represented by the still limited number of LNG refuelling stations in the country:
"So far, there are only few filling stations in Germany, e.g in Berlin, Hamburg and Ulm; however, new LNG stations should be added across the country, including those in Rostock, Bremen and Osnabrück in northern Germany. "
For Bielesch, in the North and North-East of Germany its refuelling should no longer be a problem, given the possibility of LNG supply in Berlin, few kilometres from the REAX operating base in Vogelsdorf, or in Hamburg.
The Volvo FH LNG truck is based on diesel engine technology that offers the same performance, but with 20% less CO2 emissions (and up to 100% in the case of BioLNG).
For the propulsion, the Volvo engine uses 90-95 percent of LNG and only 5-10 percent of diesel to ignite the combustion of gas; depending on the size of the tank, it can permit an autonomy of 1,000 kilometers.
Source: Volvotrucks.de