• 03 Jul 2018

Wincanton, the largest British logistics company, is trialling an LNG powered vehicle as part of its general haulage fleet.  The gas-powered Volvo FH LNG 460 is being trialled as part of Wincanton’s ongoing commitment to exploring alternative fuels.

The new Volvo 460 HP / 2300 Nm, Euro 6 step C, offers an operating range of up to 1,000 km and a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions. Instead of an Otto cycle engine, which is the conventional solution for gas-powered vehicles, the Volvo FH LNG is powered by gas engines utilising Diesel cycle technology. Its fuel consumption is on a par with Volvo's diesel engines, but 15 to 25 per cent lower than for conventional gas engines.

Data from the trial, collected through an in-cab telematics system, will be scrutinised by the Wincanton technical team and also fed back to Volvo as part of the ongoing development of the vehicle.

Carl Hanson, Wincanton’s Group Fleet Director, comments : “As a business, we are constantly reviewing new technologies which come on to the market.  Alongside investing in electric vehicles, which we are trying out for our home delivery services, we are also reviewing the merits of gas-powered trucks.  This trial will give us an insight into the performance, cost and suitability of the Volvo vehicle and inform our future investment options.”

Wincanton employs approximately 17,700 people across more than 200 sites and has a 3,600-strong fleet of vehicles. 

Source:  Wincanton