Iveco supplies gas-powered trucks to Primark

Primark has added 10 new Iveco Stralis NP trucks to its fleet in a bid to reduce transport emissions.

The natural gas-powered vehicles are a far cleaner alternative to traditional diesel fuels, reducing fuel consumption by up to 15%.

They will be refuelled at Gasrec’s Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) site at Crick in Northamptonshire.

Having already taken delivery of new, higher capacity LSTs (Longer Semi Trailer) in August 2020, the new trucks form the next piece of Primark’s emissions reduction journey.

The Stralis NP 460 4x2 tractor units are working day and night to help stores and delivery hubs across the UK prepare for the provisional re-opening of Primark stores in England and Wales on April 12, and Scotland on April 26.

The Natural Power trucks run solely on Bio-Liquified Natural Gas (Bio-LNG), delivering Particulate Matter emissions 99% lower than diesel and 90% less NO2.

Primark has specified its trucks with the largest fuel tank capacity to enable a range of almost 1,000 miles.

The vehicles, supplied by Guest Truck & Van and operated on Primark’s behalf by DHL, will run day and night. Trunking between Primark’s regional distribution centres in Scotland and the Southwest takes place during night hours, while in daylight, the 190 UK stores are restocked. An added benefit of running a gas-powered fleet is that the trucks run considerably quieter than their diesel equivalents, producing just 71dB on the PIEK quiet truck scale. Primark’s new trucks can operate in any urban areas in Quiet Mode without breaching any night-time urban noise restrictions.

The trucks have been wrapped to match the paintwork of Primark’s new trailers, featuring reflective graphics to pick out the Primark branding in a way that matches its high street storefronts. Graphics across the fuel tanks and doors denote the natural gas fuel and ‘Primark Cares’ heart.

A full suite of exterior cameras with an internal monitor ensures the drivers can see just as well as they’ll be seen, while a front and side scan system warns of any hidden obstacles or pedestrians during urban manoeuvres. Additionally, an automatically adjusting Aerodyne Global Aeromatic air deflector pushes air up and over the near 5m high trailers, reducing drag to optimise fuel efficiency.

Primark estimates each vehicle will cover 124,000 miles per year and on this basis, Gasrec predict that the 10 new trucks will reduce its annual CO2 emissions by 1,300-tonnes. Running on Gasrec’s sustainably sourced biomethane Bio-LNG, this equates to a reduction of up to 85% CO2 emissions through the mass balance programme.

“We chose the IVECO Stralis NP for its ability to run purely on Bio-LNG, its impressive range, strong performance during vehicle trials and early feedback from drivers who appreciated its comfort and performance. We are really proud to bring these new high-quality trucks into our transport fleet and further boost the sustainability of our transport operations, as we continue to help make a more positive impact on the environment”, said Ant Franks, regional transport manager at Primark.