IVECO, a designer, manufacturer of a wide range of light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, has run a pilot project in collaboration with BMW Group to test an LNG-powered truck for the German car manufacturer’s logistics operations using an IVECO Stralis NP, the first natural gas truck designed for long-haul transport in the industry.

IVECO has now launched a further range, the Stralis NP 460, which features the latest-generation automated transmission designed for the most demanding long-distance journeys and has already been crowned Low Carbon Truck of the Year in the UK.

The test showed the Stralis NP 400 truck easily completed the 530km round trip between Steyr and Regensburg on just one tank. This is the alternative fuel that delivers the best autonomy in heavy goods transport — an equivalent electric truck would have to be recharged several times.

Dr Thomas Irrenhauser, who supervised the pilot operation on behalf of BMW as part of its “Innovation and Industry 4.0” project, sees LNG as a “reasonable, sustainable alternative to conventional diesel” in the long term. In direct comparison, emissions of nitrogen oxide are up to 60% lower, and noise levels during operation are up to 50% lower. Particulate matter emissions are negligible.

Pierre Lahutte, IVECO brand president, said: "We are very proud that BMW has taken in IVECO’s vision of the future of the sector, with natural gas being the next step towards sustainability. We are seeing a fast-growing number of international manufacturers and logistics operators opting for LNG for their transport requirements. Many are choosing IVECO to convert their fleets to LNG, in view of the experience we have developed over the last 20 years.”

The logistics sector is increasingly looking at natural gas as a solution to reduce its environmental footprint and comply with ever more stringent emissions regulations, while efficiently managing its resources.

IVECO was the first to acknowledge the potential of natural gas in the commercial transport industry: this fuel can deliver 20 to 40% savings in fuel costs, up to a 15% reduction in fuel consumption compared to diesel, and provides the added benefit of quiet operation at less than 71dB on the Piek Quiet Truck Test.

Trucks running on LNG improve air quality by significantly reducing CO₂ and nitrogen oxide emissions and virtually eliminate particulate matter.

IVECO has pioneered natural gas technology for the past 20 years and is recognised today as a leader in this sector. It was chosen by German car manufacturer BMW Group for a two-week pilot project to test LNG as a solution to reduce the environmental impact of its logistics operations.

The test, which was implemented with forwarding company Spedition Duvenbeck, had an LNG-powered IVECO Stralis NP 400 truck transport engines every day from the BMW manufacturing plant in Steyr, Austria to its Regensburg facility.