L.I.T. FOCUSES ON ALTERNATIVE DRIVES
The newly acquired LNG trucks not only emit less particulate matter into the air, but also reduce noise by approximately half and have lower fuel consumption.
Robert Hennemann, Head of Driver Personnel Management, and Ingo Schreiber, member of the board of L.I.T. AG, enjoy visiting the orchard meadow.
Sustainable business is not possible without sustainable logistics. The importance of this sector in the value chain of many companies is too great. Alternative drives and thus the move away from fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel are one way to make transport more resource-efficient. As an innovative logistics service provider, we have been supporting this change from the very first moment. That is why we commissioned our first four trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) in mid-2019 and are continuing to expand our LNG fleet. We have even been using a vehicle powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) for some time.
With our Iveco LNG trucks, we transport parts for our customers in the Automotive sector, among others. For example, three of them are in operation on the route between Leipzig and Laichingen. The CNG vehicle is used in beverage logistics and operates in local transport in Bremen. After initial software problems, our drivers are now completely enthusiastic about the new trucks. "Through the current use of LNG vehicles, we have taken the first steps towards cleaner transport," says Claas Bunjes, Head of Mobility & Digital Solutions, with confidence.
The LNG vehicles score points primarily with their advantages for the environment. CO2 emissions, for example, are between ten and 15 percent lower than with fossil fuels. Even more impressive is that 95 percent less particulate matter is released into the air. Noise is also reduced by approximately half, and the consumption of the LNG vehicles is lower. Despite high acquisition costs, they will pay for themselves after a short time.
For a long time, the biggest challenge when using LNG-powered vehicles was the poor infrastructure. In the meantime, the filling station network has been significantly expanded and drivers can obtain LNG and CNG for their trucks at around 30 filling stations – according to the German Energy Agency (dena), the local infrastructure is to be expanded to around 50 filling stations by the end of 2020. The goal is to install at least 200 LNG filling stations by 2025.
We can therefore use the vehicles on significantly more routes than shortly after their acquisition. After a detailed briefing, in which some special features are explained, the refuelling process is no more complicated than with other fuels. For example, drivers must note that a distinction is made between warm (-130 to -120° C) and cold LNG (approx. -150° C). Our trucks prefer warm LNG. As soon as the liquefied natural gas is too cold, the pressure in the tank decreases. The vehicles must then remain stationary until the pressure has regulated itself. For this reason, only appropriately trained drivers who also wear protective equipment when refuelling may be deployed on the vehicles.