In 2018 online supermarket Ocado took delivery of 29 IVECO Stralis CNG vehicles. To support the refuelling of their gas fleet they have been working with gas supplier Gasrec to install a refuelling station at their Customer Fulfilment Centre in Hatfield.
The site launched with the 29 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) powered by blended biomethane and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). These replacements for previous diesel vehicles represents 20 per cent of the online retailer’s HGV fleet, an industry-leading figure.
Environmental benefits of switching to gas include 99 per cent reduction in particulate emissions and 70 per cent less nitrogen oxides than the latest diesel standard. The trucks are on average 50 per cent quieter than diesel vehicles, so are kinder to residential areas. The new vehicles will reduce the Ocado HGV fleet CO2 emissions by 29 per cent annually.
Ocado’s gas refuelling station has been designed and built by Gasrec, a major fuel supplier for natural gas-powered HGVs on UK roads.
Graham Thomas, Fleet Services Manager at Ocado said: “By investing in gas-powered vehicles, and in our first onsite refuelling station, we’re future-proofing our fleet and our business. Emissions from CNG are cleaner than Euro VI standards which start to take effect with the London Low Emissions Zone from April, and will soon be followed by a further 32 Clean Air Zones.”
James Westcott, Chief Commercial Officer at Gasrec said: “Ocado reacted immediately to the range of dedicated natural gas vehicles becoming available to HGV fleets and we’ve been able to design, build and commission the onsite refuelling infrastructure in time to meet the new trucks entering service. It’s fantastic to be working with a company so focused on improving the sustainability of its fleet – a move firmly backed by Government, which has committed to supporting natural gas vehicles with a duty reduction until 2032.”