SOURCE: CNH Industrial
DESCRIPTION:
IVECO, a brand of CNH Industrial, and Gruber Logistics have undertaken a sustainability partnership with IVECO S-WAY biomethane-powered trucks. The vehicles’ first refuelling took place during the inauguration of the liquid biomethane installation at the Autoporto Sadobre service area. The collaboration between Gruber Logistics, APS Fuel and HAM has given way to the first zero-emission green corridor in Europe. The project uses advanced biomass for producing fuel and provides full certification of its supply chain, from production to use.
Liquefied methane is today a firm reality in the field of alternative fuels. The great advantages of methane are the removal of particles the significantly lower emission levels compared to diesel. It is also possible to produce bio-LNG from biomass, so that no CO2 emissions are released into the atmosphere. Bio-LNG is slowly gathering momentum in Europe, but as yet there are no solutions to guarantee full traceability of the biomolecule. LNG fuelling stations don’t have dedicated installations, so they blend methane generated from fossil fuels with biomethane.
Fabrizio Buffa, IVECO Italy Market Alternative Propulsions Manager, says: “We are proud that Gruber Logistics, we are linked to through have mutual trust and cooperation, has once again chosen IVECO and is investing with excellence and foresight in biomethane, a green solution we strongly believe in. Today, thanks to continuous investment in products and technology, we are a European leader in alternative propulsion solutions, and biomethane is the present and future of carbon neutral heavy-duty transport.”
APS Fuel (Autoporto Sadobre) has set up a dedicated distribution infrastructure for biofuel, in order to keep fossil fuel separate from biomethane. Roberto Padovani, owner of the refuelling station, highlights the uniqueness of the installation: “Until now, biogas was introduced into the distribution network with normal methane, and is then liquefied or taken to refuelling stations where it is blended with fossil fuels. Having built a dedicated storage tank, we are the only refuelling station in Europe able to preserve the pureness of biofuel, and by the end of 2021 we will have further upgraded our facility with a hydrogen fuelling pump.”
Riccardo Piccolo from HAM, the company supplying the bio-LNG, highlights that “not only is it a fuel that can reduce emissions by 95% compared to diesel, but it also prevents CO2 emissions from agricultural waste, making it a zero-emission fuel.”
The project immediately received the support of Martin Gruber, CEO of the eponymous logistics and transport company, which has obtained the exclusive use of the fuel: “Many people wonder when we will be able to talk about zero-emission transport. Our answer is today. The future we imagine is one of using more low-emission fuels, which can also be used for combined transport. Today we mark a new beginning for the entire European transport sector.”
The involvement of production companies, whose primary objectives include reducing CO2 emissions enhances the relevance of this project. Companies such as IVECO and Electrolux immediately joined the project, the latter being the first to transport using the new bio solution.
“Electrolux, as a sustainability leader in the household appliance sector, has far-reaching ambitions to reduce its environmental impact. Acting sustainably is one of our strategic drivers, and reducing transport emissions is one of our key priorities towards our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030. Therefore, we are proud to participate in such an important initiative that will enable cleaner transport in Europe,” emphasises Marcelo Marcal, Director Purchasing Logistics at Electrolux.
KEYWORDS: NYSE:CNHI, CNH Industrial, Gruber Logistics