Kuehne+Nagel has put eight Volvo FH Globetrotter LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) tractor units into 24/7 operation on two major contracts with Whitbread and Costa.

The new models were introduced as part of the company’s drive to reduce emissions and improve the sustainability of its transport operations. 

Supplied by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia, they are the first Volvos to join Kuehne+Nagel’s UK fleet.

Andrew Blake, national distribution manager at Kuehne+Nagel, said: “We’d previously run dual fuel trucks for seven years, but it was our involvement in the Dedicated to Gas trials which confirmed that LNG was the right approach to take.

“We’re projecting an initial 20% reduction in CO2 emissions on these routes using standard LNG, with the intention of moving quickly to bio-LNG to increase this reduction to at least 80% in the near future.”

Volvo’s natural gas engine uses compression-ignition technology which relies upon small amounts of diesel to initiate ignition of the air-fuel mixture. This enables the Volvo G13C engine to deliver the same 460hp and 2,300 Nm of torque as its diesel-only counterpart, with matching service intervals and reliability.

“From an engineering perspective we have absolute confidence in Volvo’s natural gas powertrain to deliver the performance we need in an intensive around-the-clock, 44-tonne application. We looked at the spark ignition options available in other vehicles, but we didn’t want any trade off in terms of performance or fuel efficiency,” added Blake.

The 6x2 pusher-axle tractors feature 155Kg LNG tanks and Volvo’s 12-speed I-Shift automated transmission, which is expected to maximise fuel efficiency.

The specification also includes the latest generation I-See predictive cruise control system, which analyses the topography to optimise speed and gear changes.

The new vehicles have been supplied on a five-year Volvo Financial Services contract hire deal which incorporates a Volvo Gold Contract repair and maintenance package, supported by a 100% uptime promise. All scheduled servicing and maintenance will be carried out at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre East Anglia’s Wellingborough dealership, located less than five miles from the customer’s RDC.

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