(IVECO UK) IVECO announced that Primark, a leader in the British fashion retail sector, has taken its Primark Cares initiative to the highway by rolling out a fleet of 10 new IVECO Stralis NP 460 (AS440S46T/P LNG) 4×2 tractor units for its UK transport operations. The vehicles run solely on bio-LNG and form the next piece of Primark’s emissions reduction journey.
The new natural gas trucks are working day and night with utmost efficiency to help stores and delivery hubs across the UK prepare for the provisional re-opening of Primark stores in England and Wales on 12 April, and Scotland on 26 April.
A major consideration that saw Primark choose the Stralis NP is its capability to offer a range of up to 1,600km between refills running only on LNG. The combination of 12-speed HI-TRONIX automated transmission and advanced IVECO HI-CRUISE GPS-based predictive drive system offers unlimited sustainability without compromising on the drivability of a conventional diesel. The 460hp 12.9-liter CURSOR 13 NP engine offers the longest-in-class service intervals at 90,000km, minimizing downtime for maximum working efficiency. Primark has also specified its trucks with the largest fuel tank capacity to enable this superior range, allowing drivers supreme flexibility and dispelling any range anxieties.
Trucks will be fueled at Europe’s largest natural gas station, Gasrec’s DIRFT (Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal) site at Crick in Northamptonshire. Capable of refueling 700 trucks per day, it is situated just off the M1, a short 30-mile hop along the A14 to Primark’s Distribution Centre in Islip.
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 centers in Scotland and the Southwest takes place during night hours, while in daylight, the 190 UK stores are restocked. An added benefit of running an NGV 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.
Primark estimates each vehicle will cover 200,000km per year and on this basis, Gasrec predict that the 10 new trucks will reduce their annual CO2 emissions by an impressive 1,300-tons. Running on Gasrec’s sustainably sourced biomethane equates to a reduction of up to 85% CO2 emissions through the mass balance program.
“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 Primark Regional Transport Manager, Ant Franks.
“This marks another milestone in the decarbonization of the transport industry and I’m proud to see IVECO continuing to lead the change,” added Gareth Lumsdaine, IVECO UK’s Heavy Business-line Director. “Another prominent brand choosing Stralis Natural Power to achieve such an intense workload shows a real belief in our technology and the change it will make to the industry. Respecting the environment as a business shows commitment and we’re pleased to welcome Primark to the growing pioneering collective.” READ MORE