Supermarket chain Lidl wants to make its supply chain more sustainable and will therefore run the supermarket distribution with 100 trucks running on LNG fuel until the end of 2020.
In order to promote the turnaround in mobility in Germany, new and alternative concepts are needed, both for private transport and for transport logistics. That's why Lidl's holistic approach to promoting low-emission mobility involves integrating customers, employees and logistics. In the logistics sector, Lidl has been testing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) trucks since 2018 in cooperation with its freight forwarders. The drive technology offers many advantages: LNG is significantly quieter compared to diesel drive on trucks and causes up to 90 percent less local CO2 and particulate matter emissions. Therefore, Lidl has decided to significantly expand the test with currently around 30 LNG trucks. "By the end of 2020, we will have up to 100 LNG trucks transporting goods between the Lidl logistics centers and around 3,200 branches in Germany. With this nationwide test, we want to make a contribution to reducing local emissions in inner cities. However, an important prerequisite for this is that more LNG filling stations are available in Germany, "explains Tomasz Kuzma, Logistics Manager at Lidl Germany.
LNG trucks are a viable greener alternative to diesel-fueled trucks, especially in city centers with high particulate matter pollution. A fully fueled LNG truck can cover up to 1,400 kilometers. Enough to supply up to nine stores per day. That means: equal range with less emissions. "The combination of innovative LNG drive technology and an efficient, well thought-out route planning saves emissions," adds Kuzma.