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With the whole world looking for workable solutions to maintain our energy future, innovations in sustainable transport are among the most important when considered on a global scale. One of the most anticipated and closely watched innovations of recent times has been the development of the world's first natural gas truck for long-haul operations. IVECO Stralis NP In January 2017, the IVECO Stralis NP was voted "Project of the Year" at the 6th annual European Gas Awards of Excellence, held in Vienna. The prestigious awards are held during the European Gas Conference, a summit of 80 gas producers and more than 450 government and industry representatives, who come together to discuss the future of energy in Europe and recognise the innovators making a positive impact. The awards are an important marker for sustainable energy, and IVECO's truck was up against some heavy hitting projects: LNG Dunkerque Terminal; Sabine Pass LNG Terminal; Zeebrugge's Second LNG Jetty; and the Audi e-gas project. A worthy winner of this year's award, IVECO is renowned for its commitment to solving the energy issues faced by the transport industry. The revolutionary IVECO Stralis NP is their latest vehicle paving the way for gas-powered sustainable transport. IVECO Paves the Way In 1996, IVECO became the first manufacturer of commercial transport to recognise the potential of low-emission natural gas powered vehicles, with the launch of a refuse collection truck. In the two decades since, the brand has continued to evolve its "Natural Power" technology. It has set the benchmarks for natural gas-powered transport, manufacturing vans and buses, and today there are more than 16,000 such vehicles in use throughout Europe. In 2016 they launched the Stralis NP, aimed at the heavy duty, long distance haulage industry. Why Natural Gas Power? Natural gas power technology is a highly effective way of reducing polluting emissions over long distances, which, in turn, improves air quality and offsets global warming. But, beyond that, this kind of sustainable transport also produces far lower noise levels within the urban environment. Key Performance Indicators Extensive testing has confirmed that the Stralis NP competes very favourably with its diesel counterparts in terms of economy, comfort, performance and sustainability. • It delivers the same output of 400hp and 1,700 Nm torque as the best-in-class diesel equivalent. • It generates 6% more torque and a significant 17% more power than its closest competitor. • Combined with its 12-speed automated gearbox, the Stralis NP engine delivers 5% lower fuel consumption than the preceding model. • The large capacity, long-range fuel tanks provide a record 1,500km from the LNG version. Reducing Mileage Cost and Contributing to Future Energy With the growing volume of IVECO's vehicles on the roads and positive response to the launch of the Stralis NP, it appears the message is getting through. The increasing availability of bioLNG and bioCNG in Europe means sustainable transport for long distance hauliers is becoming an accessible, economical and viable alternative, even to smaller operators. Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange is the leading service for matching haulage jobs with available vehicles. They also provide expert articles on issues facing the freight industry like sustainable transport and many others. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.
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