Are your deliveries driven by LNG fleets?

With the number of deliveries increasing dramatically in recent years and online shopping becoming increasingly popular, this means that emissions from vehicles used to deliver these goods have also increased. Today, transport emissions account for around 25% of the EU’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In fact, transport emissions have been increasing since 2021 and are almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Heavy-duty trucks are the second largest contributor after cars, accounting for 28% of road transport climate emissions in Europe, despite accounting for just 2% of the total number of vehicles on the road.

The natural increase in HGV and long distance deliveries means that many businesses may be looking to alternative fuels to reduce the emissions produced. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) could be that solution, and many may not realise that some delivery companies are already using it for deliveries.

With the increasing concentration of LNG fueling stations on the continent, most of which are located in Western Europe and Asia, many of the items ordered from depots may actually have been shipped using LNG fleets. Fuel company Dover Fueling Solutions^® (DFS) provides expert insight into the benefits of LNG and highlights which brands you may not have known have already invested in it.

Why use LNG?

Natural gas is still an abundant resource that can be used as LNG to serve as an alternative fuel source to traditional fuels. In terms of emissions alone, they offer a welcome change, producing 40% less carbon dioxide than other non-renewable fuels, making it one of the cleanest fossil fuels available. In addition, CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 100%, as LNG burns clean and bio-LNG is made from organic waste.

A big advantage is that they are imported from various markets around the world into Europe and the UK, meaning that there are no expected cost increases like those currently seen with electricity. It is also not tied to the price of oil, so it can be 10% – 25% cheaper than diesel depending on the market.

For truck drivers, LNG does not detract from the driving experience or the performance of the vehicle, but rather offers a very important advantage: they meet current and expected future emission standards. This not only means that vehicles running on LNG can enter environmental zones toll-free, but they also play a major role in achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

An added benefit is that LNG engines are 50% quieter than diesel engines, meaning they fall within the range of a peak silence certification for a truck in quiet mode of 71 dB(A). This means loading times can be more flexible to provide a better quality of life in city centres, and is also an improvement for late deliveries so as not to disrupt quieter areas.

Who is already processing LNG in their deliveries?

If you’re planning on having your weekly shop delivered to your home, chances are it’s done so by a fleet that uses LNG. Major supermarkets are investing in LNG, with two of the giants, Tesco and Asda, having made the switch in the UK alone.

This trend has continued across Europe, with Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona, EDEKA in Germany and Dutch chain Albert Heijn all enhancing their efforts to use LNG in their fleets. Lidl is another chain that has pushed alternative gases in its fleet, using both LNG and compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel its delivery services in Switzerland.

In addition to supermarkets, major international delivery companies are investing more in alternative fuels such as LNG. DHL has predicted a reduction of 2,200 tonnes of CO2 emissions by replacing 20 diesel vehicles with LNG, specifically for its M&S fleet.

Amazon has become a global delivery powerhouse, adding 1,000 CNG trucks to its European fleet in 2021, showing just how widespread the shift to these alternative fuels has become. Evri and UPS have followed suit, investing heavily in LNG to expand the eco-approach to transportation logistics. This could mean that many of the items you ordered online could be shipped or delivered by a vehicle that uses an LNG or CNG engine.

The shift to LNG as a transition fuel in transport logistics strategies marks a much broader evolution in the way the transportation and shipping industries approach their fuel supply. Consumer behavior is also changing, as they become more aware of how sustainable and environmentally friendly the products they buy are, including how they are delivered. Knowing that their orders are being delivered in a way that does not contribute to further emissions can provide greater peace of mind for the environmentally conscious consumer.

A greener future for generations to come is something you can’t put a price tag on.

Author: Jennifer Neale Senior Market Communication Manager at Dover Fueling Solutions