Clipper Logistics has introduced 11 new LNG-powered vehicles and 16 trailers to its fleet, designed to reduce carbon emissions.

In what Clipper believes to be an industry first, the new vehicles powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), each save an estimated 47 tonnes of CO2 per annum, resulting in a saving of over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

The new vehicles have a range of more than 900 miles – double that of a diesel vehicle. Combined, the vehicles and trailers also have the capacity to reduce trunking requirements by 20%.

“As a business, we recognise we are high mileage road users, but we are committed to reducing unnecessary road miles, and ensuring that what we do accumulate is cleaner.

"This is only the first step in our fleet renewal strategy, which will see us move away from diesel powered vehicles, adopt additional LNG vehicles and trailers, whilst also introducing electric rigid vehicles for transport in city centres, where possible," said Clipper Logistics’ transport operations director Mick Doe.

Clipper partnered with Northern Commercials and Iveco to find a vehicle model, whilst the double decker trailers were sourced through Don Bur and TIP.

This collaborative partnership ensured that Clipper vehicles were not only quieter and cleaner, but designed to use the largest trailers permitted on UK roads.

The new straight-framed double decker trailers are 15.65m long, and have a height of 1.85m on both decks. The trailers are two metres longer than previously allowed and use regulations operating under a special license from the government as part of a trial to reduce road miles.

This has resulted in an increase in capacity, with the new trailers able to accommodate a total of 60 pallets (compared with 42 previously).

Clipper Logistics’ chief executive Tony Mannix said: “We are delighted with the addition of these new vehicles and trailers to our fleet. They are the largest and most environmentally conscious in the industry, demonstrating our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment across all areas of our business.”

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