Pall-Ex first to trial new eco truck

Pall-Ex has become the first pallet network to trial a Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) powered truck as part of its fleet.

The new eco truck on trial is a Volvo FM LNG tractor unit, which combines both LNG with a diesel engine to create a higher fuel efficiency and lower emissions.

It operates with 20% less CO₂ than its diesel counterpart and if rolled out across its fleet would help Pall-Ex reach the Department for Transport’s Road to Zero target to reduce HGV emissions by 15% against 2015 levels by 2025.

Paul Pegg, head of operations at Pall-Ex, said: “As pressure mounts on all road users to reduce their carbon footprint, Pall-Ex wants to be at the forefront of this change, so we’re investigating how to power our fleet of vehicles for a cleaner future.

“An important part of this move towards low emissions vehicles is ensuring that the driving experience and performance do not suffer as a result of the alternative fuel source.

“Electric lorries are currently not an option for many logistics companies.

“We are learning and gaining as much as possible from the trial. This truck is a new opportunity that can benefit our operation and the environment, so we are very keen to understand how it can fit our model, so we can utilise it within the Pall-Ex network.”

Pall-Ex recently upgraded its fleet of forklift trucks with a £250,000 investment in 45 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles to improve efficiency and reduce fuel use

Because of this trial, the team is now set to test another low emissions vehicle, a new LNG model from Scania.

The Scania truck does not use a diesel engine at all, running purely on liquefied gas to reduce running costs and emissions.